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WORLD CONGRESS OF FAMILIES III POSTPONED

The World Congress of Families III was planned to take place in October, 2002 simultaneously in two locations - Mexico City and Dubai on the Persian Gulf. The meetings were to have been linked by satellite.

Up until September 10th, plans were proceeding extremely well for the Congress. Conference locations in each city had been selected, speakers were being arranged, etc., with enthusiasm very high. Then the terrorists struck on September 11th. Not just New York, but the entire world felt the terrible impact.

These acts of terrorism have created uncertainties about international instability and there are also questions regarding the ease, cost and predictability of international travel next year. In addition, several key pledges of financial support in the US have been affected by the economic downturn.

Under these circumstances, a decision was recently made to defer the next Congress of the Family until the year 2003. This is not to say that the spirit of the World Congress has disappeared. Not at all. Indeed, it is alive and well and is being kept active by way of a number of regional Family Congress meetings around the world.

Already scheduled are Congresses in Kenya and Nigeria, for May, and in Sweden and Germany in November, 2002, with others anticipated as well. (Recent regional sessions in Washington, DC [October 26-27] and Arizona [November 10] were very successful.)

Once the international situation becomes stable, the World Congress of Families III will move forward. We will let you know the new date as soon as it has been settled.

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