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 woman in a lifelong covenant of marriage for the purposes of:

• satisfying the longings of the human heart to give and receive love

• welcoming and ensuring 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 “Civil 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 human 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 groups, 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. 

By signing "A Call from the Families of the World" you indicate your support of the goals and objectives of the upcoming World Congress of Families II in Geneva, Switzerland. The World Congress of Families II will seek to promote family stability, autonomy, and fecundity while extending a hand of compassion to individuals and households whose circumstances differ from the ideal.