A Call From The Families of the World

The twentieth century is thankfully drawing to a close. Those living during this period of our history have endured the terrors and agonies of two world wars, the unspeakable horrors of the Holocaust, nuclear weapons and the terrible fall-out of the sexual revolution. Before the century finally ends, however, there is still one more evil we must face -- the attempted destruction of the traditional family by world governments. This will occur by way of pressure from UN agencies using implied provisions in treaties to serve their ends. (See "World Families at Risk," p. 3.) We have, however, been forewarned of this danger and pro-family leaders are now organizing to counter this planned attack on the traditional family.

The Strategy to Save the World's Families

REAL women was honoured to be chosen as one of the delegates to attend a special strategy meeting held in Rome, Italy, in May 1998 to discuss the attacks on the traditional family by UN officials and others. This meeting was organized by both the US Christian-based family foundation, the Rockford Foundation (recently renamed the Howard Centre) and the NGO Family Voice, established by The David M. Kennedy Centre for International Studies, Brigham Young University, Utah.

Attending this meeting were representatives/delegates from the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths, who came from North America, Eastern and Western Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim countries. Together, we represented the views of billions of people world wide.

It was an amazing meeting: we all felt that we were on the threshold of a very important breakthrough when so many of us from so many different backgrounds and faiths could meet together, as brothers and sisters, to support the natural family. We were all determined that our values and perspectives on the family would not be destroyed or undermined by a small, albeit powerful, minority of people.

Our strategy to protect the traditional family is a two-pronged plan of action, to promote:

• An International Congress on the Family, and

• A World Wide Call from the Families of the World.

International World Congress on the Family

It was agreed that a world-wide Congress on the Family would be held in October, 1999. The site selected for this Congress had to be a location where Jews, Muslims and Christians would feel safe. The two choices were either Amman, Jordan, (King Hussein has expressed a particular interest in hosting such a conference in his country) or Rome. Negotiations are still taking place and the final decision will be announced shortly.

The purpose of this Congress is to bring together world political and religious leaders who are sympathetic to the traditional family and who, together with invited academics, will provide the knowledge and factual data necessary to build the case for preserving the family. The focus will be on the intellectual, historical, scientific, anthropological, ethical and religious aspects of the traditional family in our contemporary world.

These academic authorities and world leaders will present papers on a wide variety of topics such as:

• Ensuring the full physical and emotional development of children;

• A home that serves as the centre for social, educational, economic, and spiritual life;

• Modernity, globalization and progress;

• The equal but complimentary roles of men and women;

• The miracle of human fertility and procreation;

• The autonomy of the family;

• Developing guidelines for the formulation and implementation of family-centered policies and laws.

It is anticipated that these papers will serve as the intellectual, political and spiritual framework on which we will draw when making our demands that the traditional family not only be maintained, but promoted and protected because of the crucial role it plays in society. To destroy the traditional or natural family is to destroy civilization.

The Call from the Families of the World

Enclosed in this issue of Reality is the Declaration, Call from the Families of the World. This was drafted at our Rome meeting and sets forth, in clear language, what we believe -- and intend to defend with all our might. We anticipate that millions of these documents will be signed world-wide and forwarded, for tabulation, to the Howard Centre. Copies of these completed Declarations will then be deposited with the UN's Commission for Social Development in New York as the definitive statement on what the world believes about the family. Such documentation will make a strong statement that the traditional natural family must not be undermined or tampered with.

Please make photocopies of the Call to distribute at your church, school, service organizations, etc. Please serve the traditional family, both here and around the world, by distributing the Call as far and wide as possible.

What Must Be Done

The strategy developed in May at the meeting in Rome means that all of us have a role to play in ensuring the protection of the family by distributing and having completed as many copies of the Call as possible.

In addition, it is important that there be thousands of individuals in attendance at the World Congress. It is an event that we hope will have world media coverage (a team of media experts is being assembled to ensure international coverage of the Congress).

The Congress is open to everyone. It would be wonderful if you or members of your family could consider attending. It is far away, we know, and an expensive undertaking. However, if there is any possibility that you could attend, please seriously consider it. We must show the world that people do care about the family as evidenced by their willingness to flock to the Congress in large numbers.

Please pray for the success of the Congress and for the Call From the Families of the World.

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