FACTSHEET: Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty,
DETAILS
161 Ottawa NW. #301
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Phone: 616-454-3080
The Acton Institute is a conservative, religious-based public policy organization. The environment, which includes energy policy and global warming, is one of seven areas of organizational focus.
The Acton Institute is named after Lord Acton, a nineteenth century British historian and philosopher. The Acton Institute's mission is "to promote a free and virtuous society characterized by individual liberty and sustained by religious principles." The organization carries out its mission through publications, seminars, and its center for academic research.
Environment is one area of research for the Acton Institute, and is divided into sub-categories that include "Economics & Environmentalism" and "Science & Ecology". The organization subscribes to market-based environmental theories, and believes God has given humans dominion over the natural world.
Publications readily available on the group's web site include: "Thou Shalt Not Burn Fossil Fuels: Global Warming and Religious Faith," an anti-Kyoto Protocol article by Michael Barkey, and "Global Warming or Global Baloney? The Forgotten Case for Global Cooling," by Phil Brennan, which promotes the idea that the idea of global warming is a socialist attempt to take over the United States.
The Acton Insittute's Environmental Stewardship web page (http://www.acton.org/ppolicy/environment/) links to the Cato Institute,Competitive Enterprise Institute, theFree-Market Environmental network, Green-Watch, the Heartland Institute and the Heritage Foundation, among others.
FUNDING
Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty has received $315,000 from ExxonMobil since 1998.
1998
$10,000 ExxonMobil Corporate Giving
Source: Exxon Education Foundation Dimensions 1998 report
2000
$40,000 ExxonMobil Foundation
General Support
Source: ExxonMobil Foundation 2000 IRS 990
2001
$35,000 ExxonMobil Foundation
20K Environmental Outreach Initiative
15K General Operating Support
Source: ExxonMobil 2001 Worldwide Giving Report
2002
$30,000 ExxonMobil Foundation
Source: ExxonMobil 2002 Worldwide Giving Report
2003
$50,000 ExxonMobil Corporate Giving
Source: ExxonMobil 2003 Worldwide Giving Report
2004
$50,000 ExxonMobil Foundation
Source: ExxonMobil 2004 Worldwide Giving Report
2006
$50,000 ExxonMobil Corporate Giving
Source: ExxonMobil 2006 Worldwide Giving Report
2007
$50,000 ExxonMobil Corporate Giving
Source: ExxonMobil 2007 Worldwide Giving Report
KEY PEOPLE
Fr. Robert A. Sirico
President and Co-Founder
Source: Acton Institute website 4/04
Steve Goreham
Source: DeSmogBlog profile Anthony Watts
Kris Alan Mauren
executive director and founder
Source: Acton - Kris Mauren
SOURCES
ExxonMobil 2001 Worldwide Giving Report
Public Information and Policy Research
http://research.greenpeaceusa.org/?a=view&d=4388
ExxonMobil 2002 Worldwide Giving Report
Public Information and Policy Research
http://research.greenpeaceusa.org/?a=view&d=4386
ExxonMobil Foundation 2000 IRS 990
ExxonMobil Foundation 2000 IRS 990
http://research.greenpeaceusa.org/?a=view&d=4390
Exxon Education Foundation Dimensions 1998 report
Exxon Dimensions report 1998- Public Information and Policy Research
http://research.greenpeaceusa.org/?a=view&d=4385
Acton Institute website 4/04
http://www.acton.org
ExxonMobil 2003 Worldwide Giving Report
Public Information and Policy Research
http://research.greenpeaceusa.org/?a=view&d=4389
ExxonMobil 2004 Worldwide Giving Report
2004 Worldwide Contributions and Community Investments
Public Information and Policy Research
http://research.greenpeaceusa.org/?a=view&d=4380
ExxonMobil 2006 Worldwide Giving Report
Public Information and Policy Research
downloaded from Exxon website
http://research.greenpeaceusa.org/?a=view&d=4381
ExxonMobil 2007 Worldwide Giving Report
http://research.greenpeaceusa.org/?a=download&d=4586
DeSmogBlog profile Anthony Watts
http://www.desmogblog.com/anthony-watts
Acton - Kris Mauren
http://www.acton.org/about/staff/kris-alan-mauren