|
Society Seeks United Nations Role |
|
|
|
|
Seeking a way to join other groups working internationally for justice
and peace, the General Council of the Society of the Sacred Heart will
apply in June to the United Nations for status as a Non-Governmental
Organization (NGO). If accepted, the Society will join about 25 other Catholic religious
orders and some 1,500 other organizations that hold NGO status at the
United Nations.
Seeking a way to join other groups working internationally for justice
and peace, the General Council of the Society of the Sacred Heart will
apply in June to the United Nations for status as a Non-Governmental
Organization (NGO).
If accepted, the Society will join about 25 other Catholic religious
orders and some 1,500 other organizations that hold NGO status at the
United Nations.
The Society’s General Council in Rome told the membership in a letter
dated Jan. 30 that the decision to apply for NGO status followed a
“long discernment” process, beginning with the 1988 Chapter’s
recognition that the apostolic life “has a political dimension.”
NGOs, representing a variety of independent groups of citizens, are
taking an increasingly active role at the UN. Religious orders with NGO
status get together monthly to share information and strategies, even
though they may take different positions on some of the issues,
according to a telephone interview with Franciscan Sr. Florence Deacon,
who does advocacy work at the UN for Franciscans International.
NGOs share in assembly’s work in a variety of ways: by providing input
and analysis on issues, by encouraging political participation, and by
helping the UN monitor policies and actions of governments around the
world.
Applications may be made only in June of each year and take about two years to process.
Here are some excerpts from the General Council’s January letter:
“It became increasingly clear that we did not want to miss this
opportunity to put our many resources and the strength of our
internationality at the service of those who lack access to an
organization which, for all its faults, continues to symbolize the
possibility of a world where nations, races, religions and ethnic
groups can work out their differences in order to live together in
peace and harmony; where men and women of different backgrounds and
cultures can become the human family created in God’s image.
We are aware that having NGO status at the UN is not a panacea for the
world’s problems. It is not the only way of addressing them. But if our
presence at the United Nations helps one woman to stand on her feet,
one child not only to believe in his/her higher destiny but to live
long enough to claim it, one family to makes it voice heard, we think
it will be worth the effort.”
|
|
|
