MCN Event — Cardus Visit with Lisa Richmond Sept 18, 2025
Ron Phillips, retired pastor of Argyle Baptist Church, prepared this summary:
Cardus is a Christian ‘think tank’. Think tanks are organizations which do research at a high level, and then make policy recommendations. Cardus is Christian in a theologically conservative ecumenical sense, using the Apostles’ Creed as a common commitment. It includes people from diverse Christian backgrounds. Its intellectual roots are in Dutch Christian Reformed thinking, and in Catholic social teaching.
Cardus’ focus is on encouraging and contributing to a flourishing society, as Christianity understands such. Its target audience is decision-makers, those who actually shape society. It cuts across left and right politics.
Cardus is 25 years old, and is an $8 million dollar organization. It is based in Hamilton, Ontario, with a branch office in Ottawa.
Its 4 core principles:
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- Human dignity
- Human solidarity – it is interested in what is good for everyone.
- Subsidiarity – decisions should be made at the level closest to those affected by those decisions.
- Sphere sovereignty – Specific spheres within society, ie. the family, should exercise decision-making power within that sphere, without undue influence from beyond that sphere.
Cardus is able to do the intellectual groundwork and research on issues important to Christians and to the wider society, which the average person has neither the time nor the capacity to do. And it is able to influence the influencers in a way the average person cannot.
Lisa Richmond is VP Research, responsible for commissioning, vetting, and editing the research work of Cardus.
Ron Phillips