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, the London 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
Pèlerin 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. He is also currently serving on the pastoral staff of Sacred Heart of Jesus parish in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Fr. Sirico's pastoral ministry has included a chaplaincy to AIDS patients
at the National Institute of Health and the
recent founding of a new community, St. Philip Neri House in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Posts by Rev. Robert Sirico
August 08, 2017
It was with great interest that I have been following exchanges related to the now well-discussed article that appeared in the Vatican associated journal
La Civilta` Cattolica several weeks ago. Written by Fr.
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May 12, 2017
It was with deep sadness that I learned today of the passing of John F. “Jack” Donahue. Jack truly was a renaissance man, packing significant and lasting accomplishments into his 92 years.
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May 05, 2017
The following essay appeared Friday, May 5, 2017, at Crux.
In a recent message by Pope Francis to the Pontifical Academy of Social Science he outlines some moral concerns about a phenomenon he sees as invading (his term) “high levels of culture and education in both universities and in schools,” namely “libertarian individualism.”
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April 25, 2017
Longtime Acton Institute friend and supporter Kate O’Beirne passed away this past weekend. Below are Father Robert Sirico’s thoughts on this accomplished woman:
I feel like I have always known Kate O’Beirne, so the passing of this woman of keen intellect, sharp wit and fearless rhetoric in confronting the nostrums of our day leaves me feeling very, very sad.
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February 07, 2017
The Senate today narrowly voted for a change in the status quo, and that is an answer to the prayers of millions of parents who have witnessed a steady plummet of their respective children’s test scores over the past few decades.
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January 25, 2016
I was recently asked by Time Magazine for my general opinion on Donald Trump, his relation to Catholic ideas and White Evangelicals and any other thoughts I might have. I was briefly quoted in Time.
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January 11, 2016
The Acton Institute lost a great friend and staunch supporter on Sunday with the passing of Ralph Hauenstein at the age of 103 years. In a truly remarkable life, Hauenstein was by turns a journalist, a war hero, an entrepreneur, and a major philanthropist.
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November 19, 2015
The Acton Institute lost a great friend last week.
I first met Austin Hill at 1997 an Acton Institute, Towards a Free and Virtuous Society conference held in Connecticut. Those conferences were designed to identify young future religious leaders with great potential.
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September 18, 2015
On Sept. 10,
Rolling Stone magazine published a long article titled “Pope Francis’ American Crusade — The pope takes on climate change, poverty and conservative U.S. clerics.” From the title alone you could tell where this was headed.
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March 27, 2013
Coming during the week prior to Easter, I naturally thought the email I received from Sojourners — which I have been reading for my Lenten penance religiously — would contain some spiritual admonishment.
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