From Deseret News archives:

Family values get big push

Published: Saturday, May 12, 2007 12:18 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
WARSAW, Poland — What started as a conference promoting conservative family values attracting 700 people has grown into a major social agenda forum attracting 3,300 delegates and participants from around the globe, including many from Utah.

The fourth World Congress of Families convened in Warsaw Friday to further develop its pro-life, pro-family platform and give participating organizations updated lobbying material to use in their own countries.

Previous congresses took place in Prague, Geneva and Mexico City.

The umbrella organization of family advocacy groups also sees the steep population decline in Europe as a dangerous "demographic winter" brought on by attacks on the family that have developed through social and political agendas hostile to the family.

Paul Mero, president of the Sutherland Institute in Salt Lake City, has been deeply involved with several of the congresses and was among Friday's speakers. He characterized the first congress, in 1997, as "very Utah-centric" with many of the speakers coming from Brigham Young University. This year's event still has five speakers from Utah, but they are among a field of more than 130 speakers and panel discussion presenters.

Story continues below
Poland is a particularly invested host, seeing the international forum as supportive of pro-life values that are closely aligned with its national agenda and with positions taken by the Roman Catholic Church, which counts about 90 percent of Poland's population among its members.

Poland's pro-family, pro-life policies have drawn attacks from the United Nations and international political organizations on the European continent.

"We are attacked. Our position in the international forum is being questioned," said Ewa Kowalewska. She is president of the Polish Women's Forum. "Poland is and will be the guardian of family life."

Roman Giertych, Poland's minister of education and vice prime minister, called the world congress "a great honor for Poland. It is a sign that Poland is seen as the hope for Europe and the world. Without the family there is no state, there is no government, there is nothing."

Polish legislator Marek Jurek was one of several government officials who spoke about Poland's conservative political agenda. Items he is promoting as a legislator are a prohibition against "homosexual propaganda" in schools; a requirement that students be taught that life must be protected and that abortion should be severely punished; tax regulation that favors parents with children "because they are investing in the future"; and reinforcing a legal prohibition against the circulation of pornography.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Related content
previousnext

Latest comments

Hair-pulling raises more questions

How about doing away with off sides call. What would basketball be like with...

Senators want food tax restored

It's obvious that the rich are trying to eliminate the poor, but then who...

'Gays and lesbians have the same rights as anyone else and no one has taken...

Disney studio executive exits

the 90 million surplus from last year was enough to pay this exec's golden...

Y. tight ends talented tandem

November 19, 2005 Utah 41—34 LaVell Edwards Stadium Utah won in 2005.

Perhaps this is just strategy on Mike Pratt's part to be able to be with his...

To: Anonymous:9:51 am. to Confused:get over yourself.::: What a comment to...

The comments of "busymomma" and "Out on Friday easy to manage" are what need...

TO "jackhp | 10:41 a.m. " nice to see you ignoring actual facts and jsut...

Who picks them. Doesn't the coaches nominate the girls?

Advertisements
Advertisement