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Another
way of approaching the question is to look for instances of what works outside
the United States. What about international faith-based initiatives? Can
they work?
The speakers at our recent Woodstock Forum on this topic can shed
some light on this question.
In this issue of The Woodstock Report, we learn that faith-based
humanitarian agencies like Catholic Relief Services and World Vision were
responding to global needs long before the current policy debate about
faith-based initiatives emerged. They have worked for the global common good
through collaborative solidarity with those in need in a variety of partnerships
with the U.S. Government.
Woodstock approaches theological reflection on issues like international
faith-based initiatives by paying attention to the value of collaborative
solidarity. Collaborative solidarity builds communities beyond the boundaries of
interest groups. The inspiration for this comes from
The Documents of the
Thirty-Fourth General Congregation of the Society of Jesus, published in
1995. "Our Mission and Justice" states:
"Full human
liberation for the poor and for all of us lies in the development of communities
of solidarity at the grass roots and non governmental level as well as at
the political level where we can all work together towards total human
development."
In his Woodstock Forum presentation, Father William Headley, CSSP, Deputy
Executive Director of Policy and Strategic Issues of
Catholic Relief Services,
points to the core human values at the heart of collaborative solidarity. He
talks about both the potential benefits that CRS offers to social welfare in
addition to the transfer of economic resources and its concern with what
enhances life and the dignity of the person.
Serge Duss, Director of Public Policy and Advocacy of
World Vision also talks
about the sharing of these and other values with believers of other religions
like Islam. In addition he says that these "motivating principles"
have enhanced the ability of NGO’s like World Vision to provide humanitarian
aid in Muslim countries in partnerships supported by U.S. law and public
resources.
Linda Shovlain,
Deputy Director of the Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives of the
U.S. Agency for International Development talks about the way in which religious
organizations frequently are the ones that can best directly reach poor people
in their local settings.
This issue of the Woodstock Report also provides you with several other
features. In addition to recent
"Activities of the Fellows," our
"In Focus" section also offers you a glimpse of our newest program,
Catholicism and Civic Renewal. Lastly, our
update on the implementation of
Woodstock’s Church Leadership Program is both informative and helpful for
personal reflection on "the Ignatian moment."
Finally, a word of good news and special thanks. Your financial support is a
heartening sign that you value Woodstock. Your on-going collaboration, financial
and otherwise, is essential to our mission. We feel blessed in your partnership.
Gasper F. Lo Biondo, S.J.
Director
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