melbourne pro-family conference leadership petition 2014

7/21/2019 Melbourne Pro-Family Conference Leadership Petition 2014

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International Pro-Family Leadership Open Letter to the People of Australia

In the name of fairness, and in response to unremitting and grossly misleading attacks

on an August 30 conference in Melbourne, the undersigned pro-family leaders

worldwide wish to bring the following to your attention:

The Life, Family and Freedom Conference is sponsored by Endeavour Forum, an

Australian organization supporting life and the natural family, and has beendesignated a World Congress of Families Regional Event.

Since 1997, World Congress of Families has held seven Congresses, in Prague,

Geneva, Mexico City, Warsaw, Amsterdam, Madrid and our last in Sydney in

2013. These Congresses are gatherings of distinguished scholars, elected officials,

prominent religious figures and leaders and activists concerned with the health of

the natural family.

Sexual radicals have launched a smear campaign to discredit the Melbourneconference, which misrepresents the international pro-family movement and the

positions of the World Congress of Families.

Specifically, it is alleged that advocacy of the natural (or normative) family is

somehow unfair to other families and that we shame single-parent families,

homosexual couples and the divorced.

Yet social science data shows clearly and unequivocally that children do best in

families with a mother and father.

Its equally true that divorce harms children and society. This is not to say that we

shouldnt have compassion for divorcees or children growing up in single-parent

households.

Similarly, the observation that marriage is a social good is not meant to stigmatize

or shame unmarried adults.
http://www.worldcongress.org/http://www.worldcongress.org/


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The natural-family philosophy was set forth in the Universal Declaration of

Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations in 1948, which observes that men

and women of full age have the right to marry and found a family and that the

family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and, as such, is

entitled to protection by society and the state. This language is repeated in theconstitutions of more than 100 nations.

Despite the repeated attempts of certain misguided governments, the definition of

family contained in the UDHR has never been changed.

For the past 3,000 years, in every culture, this definition of the family (a man and

women united by faith and tradition, raising their children in a loving

environment) has been considered beyond dispute. Only in the past few decades

have competing models of the family been offered as the new norm. Thenatural family is also affirmed by every major religion.

Attacks on the Melbourne conference and the international pro-family movement

generally are an attempt at intimidationa weapon used to stigmatize family

advocates, stifle dissent and foreclose a debate.

The goal of sexual radicals is to deconstruct marriage and marginalize the family,

and thus to transform society into something unrecognizable to generations past.

Like all social experiments that attempt to create a new man, these are doomed

to failure.

Rather than accepting the charges against us at face value, we hope youll take the

time to learn about the international pro-family movement at

www.worldcongress.org,or on the websites of any of the signers.

Sincerely,

1. Luca VolonteNovae Terrae Foundation and Human Dignity Institute

(Italy)http://www.novaeterrae.eu/en/novae-terrae-foundation/352-mission.html

2. Michael SeminDirector, St. Joseph Institute (Czech Republic)

http://stjoseph.cz/endorsements.htm

3. Lola VelardeDirector of UN Affairs, Institute for Family Policy

http://www.ipfe.org/En/
http://www.worldcongress.org/http://www.worldcongress.org/http://www.novaeterrae.eu/en/novae-terrae-foundation/352-mission.htmlhttp://www.novaeterrae.eu/en/novae-terrae-foundation/352-mission.htmlhttp://www.novaeterrae.eu/en/novae-terrae-foundation/352-mission.htmlhttp://www.novaeterrae.eu/en/novae-terrae-foundation/352-mission.htmlhttp://stjoseph.cz/endorsements.htmhttp://stjoseph.cz/endorsements.htmhttp://www.ipfe.org/En/http://www.ipfe.org/En/http://www.ipfe.org/En/http://stjoseph.cz/endorsements.htmhttp://www.novaeterrae.eu/en/novae-terrae-foundation/352-mission.htmlhttp://www.novaeterrae.eu/en/novae-terrae-foundation/352-mission.htmlhttp://www.worldcongress.org/


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4. Peter CosteaAlliance of Romanias Families www.alianta-familiilor.ro

5. Matt BarberFounder, Barbwirehttp://barbwire.com/

6. Bogdan Stanciuboard member, Natl Federation of Pro-life

Organizations in Romaniahttp://provitabucuresti.ro/

7. William J. MurrayChairman, Religious Freedom Coalition

http://www.religiousfreedomcoalition.org/

8. Leonor TamayoProfesionales Por La Etica (Professionals for Ethics)

Spainhttp://www.profesionalesetica.org/

9. Pavel ParfentievChairman, For Family Rights (Russia)

http://profamilia.ru/about-for-family-rights-ngo-russia

10.Christine de Marcellus VollmerPresident, Latin American Alliance for

the Family (Venezuela), Member of the Pontifical Council for the Family

http://www.alafa.org/en/

11.Bob LalondeInternational Outreach Director, Priests for Life

http://www.priestsforlife.org/

12.Rabbi Daniel LapinAmerican Alliance of Jews and Christians

http://www.rabbidaniellapin.com/dynpage.php?id=1

13.James M. KushinerExecutive Director, Fellowship of St. James

http://www.fsj.org/pages/aboutFSJ.php

14.Carlos PoloRed Hispanoamerica

15.Francisco (Kit) TatadFormer Majority Leader, Philippine Senate

16.Fenny TatadExecutive Director, Bishops Legislators Caucus,

Philippine Bishops Conference

17.Patrick TruemanPresident and CEO, Morality In Media

http://moralityinmedia.org/

18.Patrick F. FaganDirector of The Marriage and Religion Research

Institutehttp://www.marri.us/
http://www.alianta-familiilor.ro/http://www.alianta-familiilor.ro/http://barbwire.com/http://barbwire.com/http://barbwire.com/http://provitabucuresti.ro/http://provitabucuresti.ro/http://provitabucuresti.ro/http://www.religiousfreedomcoalition.org/http://www.religiousfreedomcoalition.org/http://www.profesionalesetica.org/http://www.profesionalesetica.org/http://www.profesionalesetica.org/http://profamilia.ru/about-for-family-rights-ngo-russiahttp://profamilia.ru/about-for-family-rights-ngo-russiahttp://www.alafa.org/en/http://www.alafa.org/en/http://www.priestsforlife.org/http://www.priestsforlife.org/http://www.rabbidaniellapin.com/dynpage.php?id=1http://www.rabbidaniellapin.com/dynpage.php?id=1http://www.fsj.org/pages/aboutFSJ.phphttp://www.fsj.org/pages/aboutFSJ.phphttp://moralityinmedia.org/http://moralityinmedia.org/http://www.marri.us/http://www.marri.us/http://www.marri.us/http://www.marri.us/http://moralityinmedia.org/http://www.fsj.org/pages/aboutFSJ.phphttp://www.rabbidaniellapin.com/dynpage.php?id=1http://www.priestsforlife.org/http://www.alafa.org/en/http://profamilia.ru/about-for-family-rights-ngo-russiahttp://www.profesionalesetica.org/http://www.religiousfreedomcoalition.org/http://provitabucuresti.ro/http://barbwire.com/http://www.alianta-familiilor.ro/


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19.C. Gwendolyn LandoltNational Vice President, REAL Women of

Canadahttp://www.realwomenofcanada.ca/

20.Nicholeen PeckPresident, The Worldwide Organization for Women

http://wowinfo.org/

21.Rabbi Dr. Shimon CowenDirector, Institute for Judaism and

Civilization (Melbourne,Australia)http://www.ijc.com.au/

22.Rev. Justin T. MurffChristian Broadcasting Network

http://www.cbn.com/

23.Jean Goyard -- Directeur de la Communication de la Socit Franaise

pour la dfense de la Tradition, Famille et Proprit-French Society for

Tradition, Family and Propertyhttp://tfp-france.org/

24.Chris CarmoucheExecutive Director, GrassTopsUSA

http://www.grasstopsusa.com/

25.Silvio della ValleAssociazione per la Difesa Del Valori Chritiani (Luci

sullEst) Association for the Defense of Christian Values (Italy)

http://www.lucisullest.it/

26.Rev. Dr Mark Durie -- Vicar St Mary's Anglican Church, Caulfield,

Australiahttp://www.smac.org.au/Home.aspx

27.Levan VasadzChairman, Prometheus Partners (Republic of Georgia)

http://www.prometheus-cp.com/team.html

28.Ignacio ArsuagaHazteOir.org (Spain)http://www.hazteoir.org/

29.Alvaro ZuluetaCitizenGo (international)http://www.citizengo.org/

30.Zdenka RybovaThe Czech Pro-Life Movement

http://www.katopedia.cz/index.php?title=Hnut%C3%AD_Pro_%C5%B

Eivot_%C4%8CR

31.John SmeatonChief Executive, The Society for the Protection of

Unborn Children (United Kingdom)https://www.spuc.org.uk/

32.Mike Huckabeeformer Arkansas Governor, FOX news talk show host

http://www.mikehuckabee.com/
http://www.realwomenofcanada.ca/http://www.realwomenofcanada.ca/http://www.realwomenofcanada.ca/http://wowinfo.org/http://wowinfo.org/http://www.ijc.com.au/http://www.ijc.com.au/http://www.ijc.com.au/http://www.cbn.com/http://www.cbn.com/http://tfp-france.org/http://tfp-france.org/http://tfp-france.org/http://www.grasstopsusa.com/http://www.grasstopsusa.com/http://www.lucisullest.it/http://www.lucisullest.it/http://www.smac.org.au/Home.aspxhttp://www.smac.org.au/Home.aspxhttp://www.smac.org.au/Home.aspxhttp://www.prometheus-cp.com/team.htmlhttp://www.prometheus-cp.com/team.htmlhttp://www.hazteoir.org/http://www.hazteoir.org/http://www.hazteoir.org/http://www.citizengo.org/http://www.citizengo.org/http://www.citizengo.org/http://www.katopedia.cz/index.php?title=Hnut%C3%AD_Pro_%C5%BEivot_%C4%8CRhttp://www.katopedia.cz/index.php?title=Hnut%C3%AD_Pro_%C5%BEivot_%C4%8CRhttp://www.katopedia.cz/index.php?title=Hnut%C3%AD_Pro_%C5%BEivot_%C4%8CRhttps://www.spuc.org.uk/https://www.spuc.org.uk/https://www.spuc.org.uk/http://www.mikehuckabee.com/http://www.mikehuckabee.com/http://www.mikehuckabee.com/https://www.spuc.org.uk/http://www.katopedia.cz/index.php?title=Hnut%C3%AD_Pro_%C5%BEivot_%C4%8CRhttp://www.katopedia.cz/index.php?title=Hnut%C3%AD_Pro_%C5%BEivot_%C4%8CRhttp://www.citizengo.org/http://www.hazteoir.org/http://www.prometheus-cp.com/team.htmlhttp://www.smac.org.au/Home.aspxhttp://www.lucisullest.it/http://www.grasstopsusa.com/http://tfp-france.org/http://www.cbn.com/http://www.ijc.com.au/http://wowinfo.org/http://www.realwomenofcanada.ca/


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33.Mat StaverFounder and Chairman, Liberty Counsel

http://www.lc.org/

34.Martha Olavarieta de Gomez SerranoRed Familia (the Family

Network) Mexicohttps://www.redfamilia.org/

35.Don SchmiererHis Servantshttp://www.hisservants.net/

36.Fabrice SorlinWCF Representative in France

37.Rev. Rick ScarboroughPresident, Vision America Action

http://visionamericaaction.org/

38.Natalia YakuninaSanctity of Motherhood Foundation (Russia)

http://www.st-andrew-foundation.org/news/post/4

39.Ewa KowalewskaHuman Life International, Poland

http://www.hli.org.pl/drupal/en

40.Lech Kowalewski -- Friends of Human Life Club Foundation (Poland)

http://www.hli.org/2014/05/black-madonna-visits-polish-capital-us-pro-

life-pilgrimage/

41.Benjamin W. Bull, Esq.Chief Counsel, Executive Director of the

Global Alliance Defending Freedomhttp://www.alliancedefendingfreedom.org/issues/global

42.Steve MosherPresident, Population Research Institute

http://www.pop.org/

43.Jesus MaganaUnidos por la vida (United for Life), Colombia

http://www.unidosporlavida.com/

44.Shirley RichardsJamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society

http://www.jchs.org.jm/

45.C. Preston NoellAmerican Society for Tradition, Family and Property

http://www.tfp.org/

46.Paul von OlderburgDirector, Federation Pro-Europa Christiani (based

in Brussels)http://www.english.federation-pro-europa-christiana.org/
http://www.lc.org/http://www.lc.org/https://www.redfamilia.org/https://www.redfamilia.org/https://www.redfamilia.org/http://www.hisservants.net/http://www.hisservants.net/http://www.hisservants.net/http://visionamericaaction.org/http://visionamericaaction.org/http://www.st-andrew-foundation.org/news/post/4http://www.st-andrew-foundation.org/news/post/4http://www.hli.org.pl/drupal/enhttp://www.hli.org.pl/drupal/enhttp://www.hli.org/2014/05/black-madonna-visits-polish-capital-us-pro-life-pilgrimage/http://www.hli.org/2014/05/black-madonna-visits-polish-capital-us-pro-life-pilgrimage/http://www.hli.org/2014/05/black-madonna-visits-polish-capital-us-pro-life-pilgrimage/http://www.alliancedefendingfreedom.org/issues/globalhttp://www.alliancedefendingfreedom.org/issues/globalhttp://www.pop.org/http://www.pop.org/http://www.unidosporlavida.com/http://www.unidosporlavida.com/http://www.jchs.org.jm/http://www.jchs.org.jm/http://www.tfp.org/http://www.tfp.org/http://www.english.federation-pro-europa-christiana.org/http://www.english.federation-pro-europa-christiana.org/http://www.english.federation-pro-europa-christiana.org/http://www.english.federation-pro-europa-christiana.org/http://www.tfp.org/http://www.jchs.org.jm/http://www.unidosporlavida.com/http://www.pop.org/http://www.alliancedefendingfreedom.org/issues/globalhttp://www.hli.org/2014/05/black-madonna-visits-polish-capital-us-pro-life-pilgrimage/http://www.hli.org/2014/05/black-madonna-visits-polish-capital-us-pro-life-pilgrimage/http://www.hli.org.pl/drupal/enhttp://www.st-andrew-foundation.org/news/post/4http://visionamericaaction.org/http://www.hisservants.net/https://www.redfamilia.org/http://www.lc.org/


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47.Alexey KomovFamilyPolicy.RU, WCF Representative in Russia and

the CIS.http://en.familypolicy.ru/

48.Andrea WilliamsFounder and CEO, Christian Concern (United

Kingdom)http://www.christianconcern.com/

49.Dr. Thomas WardFounder and Vice President, National Association of

Catholic Families (UK), Corresponding Member of the Pontifical

Academy for Lifehttp://www.cfnews.org.uk/

50.Tim MatthewsEditor, CF News, National Association of Catholic

Families (UK)http://www.cfnews.org.uk/

51.Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D. -- Author, Columnist and Commentator

http://www.janiceshawcrouse.com/bio.html

52.Rebekah ali-GouveiaElpis Centre (Trinidad), WCF Caribbean

Coordinator https://www.facebook.com/theelpiscentre

53.Brian BrownPresident ,National Organization for Marriage

https://www.nationformarriage.org/

54.Colin HannaLet Freedom Ringhttp://www.letfreedomringusa.com/

55.

Ted BaehrPresident, Christian Film and Television Commissionhttp://www.movieguide.org/

56.Sharon SlaterPresident, Family Watch International

http://www.familywatchinternational.org/fwi/

57.Georges Martin -- Droit de Natre (Right to Life) France

58.Hon. Tom Delayformer Republican Majority Leader, U.S. House of

Representatives

59.Laura BunkerPresident, United Families International

http://unitedfamilies.org/

60.Michael van der Mast -- Schreeuw om Leven (Cry for Life,)Netherlands

http://www.schreeuwomleven.nl/english.htm

61.Errol Naidoo -- Director, Family Policy Institute Cape Town, South

Africahttp://www.familypolicyinstitute.com/fpi/
http://en.familypolicy.ru/http://en.familypolicy.ru/http://en.familypolicy.ru/http://www.christianconcern.com/http://www.christianconcern.com/http://www.christianconcern.com/http://www.cfnews.org.uk/http://www.cfnews.org.uk/http://www.cfnews.org.uk/http://www.cfnews.org.uk/http://www.cfnews.org.uk/http://www.cfnews.org.uk/http://www.janiceshawcrouse.com/bio.htmlhttp://www.janiceshawcrouse.com/bio.htmlhttps://www.facebook.com/theelpiscentrehttps://www.facebook.com/theelpiscentrehttps://www.nationformarriage.org/https://www.nationformarriage.org/http://www.letfreedomringusa.com/http://www.letfreedomringusa.com/http://www.letfreedomringusa.com/http://www.movieguide.org/http://www.movieguide.org/http://www.familywatchinternational.org/fwi/http://www.familywatchinternational.org/fwi/http://unitedfamilies.org/http://unitedfamilies.org/http://www.schreeuwomleven.nl/english.htmhttp://www.schreeuwomleven.nl/english.htmhttp://www.familypolicyinstitute.com/fpi/http://www.familypolicyinstitute.com/fpi/http://www.familypolicyinstitute.com/fpi/http://www.familypolicyinstitute.com/fpi/http://www.schreeuwomleven.nl/english.htmhttp://unitedfamilies.org/http://www.familywatchinternational.org/fwi/http://www.movieguide.org/http://www.letfreedomringusa.com/https://www.nationformarriage.org/https://www.facebook.com/theelpiscentrehttp://www.janiceshawcrouse.com/bio.htmlhttp://www.cfnews.org.uk/http://www.cfnews.org.uk/http://www.christianconcern.com/http://en.familypolicy.ru/


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62.Edmund Adamus -- Director for Marriage and Family Life of the

Westminster Diocese, UKhttp://rcdow.org.uk/diocese/marriage-and-

family-life/

63.

Margaret H. Hartshorn, Ph.D., -- President, Heartbeat International, Inc.http://www.heartbeatinternational.org/

64.Steven E. Smoot -- President Family First Foundation

USAhttp://www.familyfirstfoundation.org/

65.Guillermo RamirezFundacion Jamie Guzman (Chile)

http://www.jaimeguzman.cl/

66.Susan RoylanceHoward Center for Family, Religion & Society,

International Policy and Social Development Coordinator

http://profam.org/

67.Srdjan NogoDveri (Serbia)http://www.dverisrpske.com/sr/

68.Allan C. CarlsonInternational Secretary, World Congress of Families

http://worldcongress.org/

69.Larry JacobsManaging Director, World Congress of Families


70.Don FederCommunications Director, World Congress of Families


71.Miriam Grossman, MD -- child psychiatrist and author, USA

http://www.miriamgrossmanmd.com/

72.Sawomir Olejniczak -- President, Instytut Ks. Piotra Skargi

(Father Peter Skarga Institute) Polandhttp://www.piotrskarga.pl/

73.E. Douglas ClarkDirector of UN Affairs, World Congress of Families

http://www.piotrskarga.pl/

74. MarcoRespintiColumbia Institute, Milan (Italy)https://it-

it.facebook.com/ColumbiaInstitute

75. Fr. Shenan J. BoquetPresident, Human Life International

http://www.hli.org/
http://rcdow.org.uk/diocese/marriage-and-family-life/http://rcdow.org.uk/diocese/marriage-and-family-life/http://rcdow.org.uk/diocese/marriage-and-family-life/http://rcdow.org.uk/diocese/marriage-and-family-life/http://www.heartbeatinternational.org/http://www.heartbeatinternational.org/http://www.familyfirstfoundation.org/http://www.familyfirstfoundation.org/http://www.familyfirstfoundation.org/http://www.jaimeguzman.cl/http://www.jaimeguzman.cl/http://profam.org/http://profam.org/http://www.dverisrpske.com/sr/http://www.dverisrpske.com/sr/http://www.dverisrpske.com/sr/http://worldcongress.org/http://worldcongress.org/http://worldcongress.org/http://worldcongress.org/http://worldcongress.org/http://worldcongress.org/http://www.miriamgrossmanmd.com/http://www.miriamgrossmanmd.com/http://www.piotrskarga.pl/http://www.piotrskarga.pl/http://www.piotrskarga.pl/http://www.piotrskarga.pl/http://www.piotrskarga.pl/https://it-it.facebook.com/ColumbiaInstitutehttps://it-it.facebook.com/ColumbiaInstitutehttps://it-it.facebook.com/ColumbiaInstitutehttps://it-it.facebook.com/ColumbiaInstitutehttp://www.hli.org/http://www.hli.org/http://www.hli.org/https://it-it.facebook.com/ColumbiaInstitutehttps://it-it.facebook.com/ColumbiaInstitutehttp://www.piotrskarga.pl/http://www.piotrskarga.pl/http://www.miriamgrossmanmd.com/http://worldcongress.org/http://worldcongress.org/http://worldcongress.org/http://www.dverisrpske.com/sr/http://profam.org/http://www.jaimeguzman.cl/http://www.familyfirstfoundation.org/http://www.heartbeatinternational.org/http://rcdow.org.uk/diocese/marriage-and-family-life/http://rcdow.org.uk/diocese/marriage-and-family-life/


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76. Nikolas T. Nikas, -- President & General Counsel, Bioethics Defense

Fundhttp://www.bdfund.org/

77. Dorinda C. Bordlee -- VP Senior Counsel, Bioethics Defense Fund

http://www.bdfund.org/

78. Paul Diamondbarrister (UK)http://www.pauldiamond.com/

79. Warwick MarchDads4Kids Fatherhood Foundation (Australia)

http://www.fatherhood.org.au/

80. Rabi Aryeh SperoCaucus for America

http://www.caucusforamerica.com/
http://www.bdfund.org/http://www.bdfund.org/http://www.bdfund.org/http://www.bdfund.org/http://www.bdfund.org/http://www.pauldiamond.com/http://www.pauldiamond.com/http://www.pauldiamond.com/http://www.fatherhood.org.au/http://www.fatherhood.org.au/http://www.caucusforamerica.com/http://www.caucusforamerica.com/http://www.caucusforamerica.com/http://www.fatherhood.org.au/http://www.pauldiamond.com/http://www.bdfund.org/http://www.bdfund.org/

melbourne pro-family conference leadership petition 2014

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