You Tube Theology

On Tuesday November 7th 2017, The King's College hosted R.R. Reno of First Things and Father Robert Sirico of The Acton Institute at the Princeton Club for a debate on the merits of free markets. SHOULD THE CHURCH RETHINK THE MERITS OF FREE MARKETS? For decades, an ecumenical alliance of orthodox Christians has rallied around the consensus that both liberal democracy and the Church flourish best when government is smaller, and that free market works with, rather than against the imperative of human dignity. Recently, however, this conventional wisdom has been called into question by new voices who suggest that capitalism may have, in retrospect, been eating its way through the heart of common culture which Johann Herder once defined as "the lifeblood of a people, the flow of moral energy that keeps a society intact." The most notable salvo in this respect has come, to the surprise of some, from R. R. Reno, the distinguished editor of First Things. In a much discussed essay revisiting Michael Novak's 1990 classic The Spirit of Democratic Capitalism, Reno observed, capitalism "is our fate and our problem." He went on to advocate a position that sought to revisit the failures of both socialism and the free market. Some readers were alarmed, including Father Robert Sirico and his colleagues at The Acton Institute a bellwether organization that promotes free markets moored by religious principles. Others wondered whether or not Reno was giving voice to a coming generation of thinkers who were theologically conservative, but also not sanguine about classical liberalism. Several articles in the Public Discourse have added fuel to the fire. Realizing the stakes involved in this debate, The King's College reached out to both Father Sirico and Dr. Reno and asked whether or not they would be willing to appear together in New York City to air out their differences. They said yes. Please RSVP for this important conversation on November 7, at 6:30 PM at the Princeton Club. Seating is limited. R. R. RENO R. R. Reno has been published in many academic journals. His essays and opinion pieces on religion, public life, contemporary culture, and current events have appeared in the New York Times, Commentary, and the Washington Post, among other popular outlets. His most recent books include Sanctified Vision: An Introduction to Early Christian Interpretation of the Bible; Fighting the Noonday Devil; and Resurrecting the Idea of a Christian Society, published in August 2016. Reno has appeared as a guest on CNN's Crossfire, EWTN's Faith & Culture, and numerous radio shows. FATHER ROBERT SIRICO Rev. Robert A. Sirico received his Master of Divinity degree from the Catholic University of America following undergraduate study at the University of Southern California and the University of London. During his studies and early ministry, he experienced a growing concern over the lack of training religious studies students receive in fundamental economic principles, leaving them poorly equipped to understand and address today's social problems. As a result of these concerns, Fr. Sirico co-founded the Acton Institute with Kris Alan Mauren in 1990. As president of the Acton Institute, Fr. Sirico lectures at colleges, universities, and business organizations throughout the U.S. and abroad. His writings on religious, political, economic, and social matters are published in a variety of journals, including: the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, theLondon Financial Times, the Washington Times, the Detroit News, and National Review. Fr. Sirico is often called upon by members of the broadcast media for statements regarding economics, civil rights, and issues of religious concern, and has provided commentary for CNN, ABC, the BBC, NPR, and CBS' 60 Minutes, among others. In April of 1999, Fr. Sirico was awarded an honorary doctorate in Christian Ethics from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, and in May of 2001, Universidad Francisco Marroquin awarded him an honorary doctorate in Social Sciences. He is a member of the prestigious Mont Plerin Society, the American Academy of Religion, and the Philadelphia Society, and is on the Board of Advisors of the Civic Institute in Prague. Father Sirico also served on the Michigan Civil Rights Commission from 1994 to 1998. His pastoral ministry has included a chaplaincy to AIDS patients at the National Institutes of Health. He is the Pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus parish in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Acton Institute maintains a vigorous editorial outreach, especially through its president, Rev. Robert A. Sirico. Sirico holds dual Italian and American citizenship.