NCCW Meets in Jacksonville, Elects New Officers

Voting delegates at the Minneapolis convention approved the Resolutions printed here.

Support for the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People
Whereas, The National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) acknowledges the impact of clerical sexual abuse within the Catholic Church;

Whereas, NCCW recognizes that this is a time of pain and sorrow for the abused and their families, for our Church, for our priests and for all the faithful; and

Whereas, the abusers may reconcile with God and those they abused;

Resolved, That the members of NCCW offer our prayers and support for the priests who nourish and guide us and faithfully serve the needs of our parishes;

Resolved, That NCCW members support victims and abusers with prayer and ministry; and

Resolved, That NCCW members support the efforts of the bishops in implementing the "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People" that the U.S. bishops approved June 2002.

Support of Diverse Families
Whereas, The National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) recognizes that today children are being raised in various family environments, such as single parents, blended families, grandparents, stepparents, and foster parents as well as the traditional two-parent family;

Whereas, NCCW is committed to families of all ages and environments, while recognizing the family as the primary environment for the moral guidance and religious upbringing of the children;

Resolved, That the members of NCCW encourage and support programs in parishes designed to address different family situations;

Resolved, That the members of NCCW also support these various family environments by offering prayers especially the Rosary.

Support of the National Council of Catholic Women Book Collection
Whereas, The National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) has had a long history of commitment to the family and especially the children;

Whereas, NCCW recognizes that reading to children from their earliest ages builds the foundation of language and learning skills;

Whereas NCCW realizes that not all children have access to books at an early age;

Resolved, that NCCW will promote "NCCW Book Collection: Helping Children Read for Fun and Future";

Resolved, That NCCW members support the implementation of this program in their councils.

Pope’s Call to Pray the Rosary
Whereas, The people of the world currently experience a great deal of turmoil and uncertainty, see events escalate quickly to threats of war, and recognize that peace is constantly being threatened;

Whereas, Pope John Paul II in his letter, "Rosarium Virginis Mariae," has asked all Catholics to pray the Rosary for world peace; and

Whereas, Women have received special and unique gifts from God to harbor and nurture life, to seek respect and human dignity for all people, and to strive for peace;

Resolved, That the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) encourage women across the country to pray the Rosary, using the Mysteries of Light every Thursday, with the special intention for world peace;

Resolved, That the membership of NCCW work for peace in all aspects of their lives, speaking out on nurturing life rather than taking life.

Offer Support to Those Who Have Experienced Abortion Directly or Indirectly
Whereas, More than 40 million abortions have occurred since 1973 when abortion on demand was legalized;

Whereas, Women and their families have suffered the emotional trauma and sorrow of an abortion; and

Whereas, There are individuals unknown to us who are silently suffering who need our understanding and support;

Resolved, That NCCW educate the members in ways to reach out and offer assistance and support, including spiritual, financial, and emotional, to these individuals and to programs, such as Project Rachael, Project Jericho, and Gabriel Project.

Catholic Relief Services 60th Anniversary
Whereas, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the official overseas relief and development agency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, celebrates 60 years of service to those in need around the world and education to U.S. Catholics to raise awareness, engagement, and build Global Solidarity;

Whereas, The National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) has faithfully and generously supported CRS since 1946 through the Madonna Plan, Water-for-Life, Help-A-Child programs, and Refugee Women Emergency Fund; and

Whereas, NCCW and CRS share a commitment "to work together in justice and solidarity with the women and children of the developing world, empowering them to make a better life for themselves, their children and their community," (National Accord between CRS and NCCW, 4/16/98);

Resolved, That NCCW offer congratulations to CRS and prayers of thanksgiving for CRS on the celebration of the 60th year of service to the church and the most needy in the world.

Water-For-Life 25th Anniversary
Whereas, The National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) officially recognized the ongoing efforts to bring water to communities of need in 1978 with the establishment of the Water-For-Life fund designated specifically to support the work of CRS in digging wells, building water storage tanks, and creating means to bring water to the most underdeveloped regions;

Whereas, Over these 25 years with the generous support of hundreds of donors, sources of water have been brought to communities of people world wide, thereby changing the lives of women and children and providing hope to all the people; and

Whereas, The recent statement of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace at the Third World Forum on Water, Kyoto, Japan (March ’03) states water is a "major factor in each of the three pillars of sustainable development: economic, social and environmental" and urges that the international community recognize access to clean and potable water a "human right;"

Resolved, That NCCW acknowledge to the membership the 25th Anniversary of the Water-For-Life fund;

Resolved, That NCCW support future efforts by the Vatican and the international community to recognize formally the "right" of each human life to accessible, clean, and potable water.

Timely Resolution: On the Occasion of the 25th Anniversary of Pope John Paul II
Whereas, John Paul II, successor to Peter and Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church was elected the 264th pope on October 16, 1978 and celebrates 25 years of his pontificate on October 16, 2003;

Whereas, The National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) recognizes the extraordinary leadership and steadfast foundation that he has been to the church in these 25 years;

Resolved, That NCCW express appreciation, gratitude and love to his Holiness Pope John Paul II for his generous, dedicated, and courageous service and rejoice with the whole Church on the occasion of his 25 years as Vicar of Christ.