(Please Print Out and Send In)

We come together from diverse national, cultural, social and faith communities to affirm the natural human family. The natural family is the fundamental social unit, inscribed in human nature, and centered around the voluntary union of a man and a wom an in a lifelong covenant of marriage for the purposes of:

  Satisfying the longings of the human heart to give and receive love;

  Welcoming and insuring the full physical and emotional development of children;

  Sharing a home that serves as the center for social, educational, economic, and spiritual life;

  Building strong bonds among the generations to pass on a way of life that has transcendent meaning; and

  Extending a hand of compassion to individuals and households whose circumstances fall short of these ideals.

Today, however, certain social, political and economic forces threaten the natural family, tearing the social fabric at local, national and international levels. Under slogans such as "modernity," "globalization," and "progress." and in the name of "C ivil Society," these forces have weakened the bonds between husband and wife, parent and child, and the generations. These ideologies deny the natural origin and status of the family, the equal but complementary roles of men and women, the miracle of huma n fertility and procreation, the dignity and worth of every human person, and the autonomy of the family itself. The family, which develops and sustains not only individuals but all larger communities, has been subordinated to the agendas of pressure grou ps, ignored by economic decision-makers, and subjected to social experimentation.

Therefore, we call for the convening of The World Congress of Families II in the Year 1999 for the purposes of:

  Rallying organizations and individuals to protect and fortify the natural family;

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

  Raising worldwide awareness of the objectives and results of the Congress through the dissemination of information to mass media, scholars, public officials, government bodies, religious leaders, family organizations, and the public at large; and

  Creating ongoing structures for mutual cooperation and support.

Please send the signed Call to:

This international document was drafted on May 21, 1998, by the World Congress of Families Planning Committee, representing every major culture and religion of the world.