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Lord Acton Essay Competition

2002 Winning Essays

2001 Winning Essays

2000 – Religion, Duty, and Liberty
[ purchase ]

1999 – The Limits of Government
[ purchase ]

1998 – Ethics and Economics
[ purchase ]

1997 – Freedom and Order
[ purchase ]

1996 – The Remedy for Poverty
[ purchase ]

1995 – Duty and Responsibility

1994 – Beyond the State

1993 – Liberty: Man's Highest Political End
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1992 – The Role of Religion in Fostering a Free & Virtuous Society
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The 1995 Lord Acton Essay Competition

Duty and Responsibility
The Dangers Posed to Liberty by Democratic Governance

“Moral defects lead to the loss of liberty. So we may say that it flourishes jointly with conscience. Decay of the one brings about decay of the other. Democracy undermines conscience by making men prefer what others think best to what they think best themselves. So it demoralizes like excess authority. It relieves men from the sense of responsibility and the duty of effort.”
– Lord Acton

Introduction by Rev. Edmund Opitz

Judges

Winning Essays:

1st Place:
“Man's Sanctuary: the Development of Conscience and Liberty”, William Edmund Fahey
2nd Place:
“The Dangers Posed to Liberty by Democratic Governance”, Kim Paffenroth
3rd Place:
“Liberty Where It Matters Most”, Matthew Eric Raley
Honorable Mention:
“The Spiritual Fruits of Political Liberty”, Ann Donaldson
Honorable Mention:
“Liberty vs. Democracy”, Tom Ellis
Honorable Mention:
“Seeking the Reign of Conscience”, Lisa Carlucci Moreno

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