Dear colleagues and friends,

I sincerely hope you and yours are well, even if circumstances, and especially the confinement, are affecting both our private and professional lives.  Social relations are hampered; plans and actions have been made more fragile and scheduled perspectives have become uncertain. Too many questions remain unanswered and it may be said that this period of Lent has been an extraordinary time inviting us to focus on essentials. The Urbi et Orbi blessing has most certainly touched many of our minds and hearts through both the words of Pope Francis and the image of solitude, so distant and yet so close.

With more than half of the global population in a situation of confinement and an announced economic recess, humanity’s future is affected in unprecedented and hardly predictable ways. While we increasingly come to understand that things will be different after the crisis, we again face the dichotomy of choice between restoring previous systems or suggesting new paths. It is witnessed how much global and national responses prepare for a ‘quick’ revival in line with current logics and systems. On the other hand, we see how much solidarity has gained a face seeking proximity and deepened the human perspective in the multiplication of creative initiatives and messages of home.

Billions are invested in ensuring economic recovery yet too often limited by national goals: health protection measures are in essence developed on national bases seemingly ignoring the broader picture of affected humanity and even nourishing competition between nations on how to best handle the crisis; the number of affected are listed in tables wrongly comparing actual realities; intergovernmental structures are fractured by national reflexes even to the point that the UN Secretary General calls for more unity.  

Catholic inspired organizations and civil society on the whole will face important challenges at various levels.  As an economic entity we are at risk of facing budgetary reductions, as a NGO involved in policy issues we may suffer a reduced impact in the debates for solutions; as faith based organizations, we are invited to more strongly formulate the core priorities in developing the ways forward.  In short, it means we will at the same time need to ensure continuity, renewal and extension of our action.  

Together we assembled an important message on the need to prioritize inclusion. This effort will prove to be even more of value in taking further steps forward.  The English version of the publication is in print and soon to be distributed, the Bishop’s Conferences and also inviting a number of Catholic organizations who have not yet joined the forum initiative.

We will soon send out a document detailing the upcoming Forum Program for 2020 – 2021, which will include a proposal for a forum intranet to organize exchanges on a more efficient and immediate basis. Making the best use of such an environment will no doubt contribute to a message building effort and strengthen our position as Catholic social actors. In the meantime, it may be useful to bring together some of your understanding to readjust the present picture on how this crisis impacts the beneficiaries with whom you work and on your reading of the core challenges to be dealt with after the crisis. As the upcoming Forum Program document will explain, assembling your recommendations on how to move forward after the crisis may be helpful for all of us.  Don’t hesitate to send your readings and understanding to Geoffrey.  We will then organize to regularly circulate the ideas among all forum participants.

Wishing you, your colleagues and your families the joy and spirit of Easter, 

Johan Ketelers 

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In November 2007 approximately 90 Catholic Inspired Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) with consultative status before intergovernmental institutions constituted a Forum. In so doing their intention was to identify and develop means of collaboration regarding international issues, in the hope to thereby achieve a more efficacious presence and action.

The Forum was conceived as a place of dialogue and exchange among Catholic Inspired NGOs in order to offer a strengthened Christian witness at the international level. This witness is at the service of the common good of humanity, the defense of human life and dignity, as well as the promotion of global peace in a spirit of communion and generosity.

The Forum invites organizations to consider the approach articulated in the papal encyclical Caritas in Veritate, namely, that new solutions are “to be found together in the light of an integral vision of man, reflecting the different aspects of the human person, contemplated through a lens purified by charity” (32).

The Forum Committee and Secretariat wish to warmly welcome you and thank you for visiting the website.

FIAMC is member of the Forum. Dr José María Simón is the representative to Forum.