Family and Religion Forum organized in France on the occasion of the International Day of Families 2016

« Family and Religion” Forum organized in France on the occasion of the International Day of Families 2016 Paris, France, 14. May 2016

O n May 14, 2016, at the catholic of the Al Ghazali Institute of the Grand Olivier Robin, in charge of the Versailles center “Accueil Barouillère” in Mosque of Paris, supervising the Parish of the Church of Jesus-Christ of Paris, the French chapter of the training of imams; Mrs. Sonja Read, Latter Day Saints. Universal Peace Federation from the Family Federation for World Among participants were various organized its first Forum on Family and Peace; Pastor Agnès von Kirchbach, a representatives of religious Religion, on the theme: “The Family and protestant pastor from the Reformed communities, notably: Imam Moussa the Transmission of Values.” Organizing Church of France; M. Jacques Marion, Drame, a Peace Ambassador from the partners were the French chapter of president of UPF France; and Mr. Ivory Coast, who had come to Paris to Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP) and the Circle of Reflection of Nations. Sonja Read, Father Anglarès, Dr Seddiki, Family relationships being a cornerstone Jennifer Lambert on the panel of religious traditions, and the family, though challenged at different levels in modern days, being the source of stability and solidarity for society, religious leaders from different faiths gathered at the first Forum on “Family and Religion” initiated by UPF France. The focus of the discussion was on the parent-child relationship and its central role in the family and society. Speakers included: Father Michel Anglarès, a catholic theologian, former professor at the Catholic Institute of Paris; Dr. Djelloul Seddiki, the director

attend the event; Sheikh Abdelkader and feminine as the basis of existence. community near Paris, caught the heart Achour, the imam of the Omar Mosque Benevolence that is to be applied toward of the audience with practical lessons in Paris; Mr. Dominique Calmels, all human beings, he said, should be all drawn from her fine analysis of biblical Director of Communications for the the more carefully and precisely applied episodes: the failures of Adam and Eve, Mormon Church in France, and his wife, within the family. successes in the family of Abraham, the etc. In an 80 seat hall filled to capacity, genealogy of Jesus, etc. She outlined the audience included Peace some challenges to transmit values in Ambassadors, NGO leaders and other current times, emphasizing the need for members of civil society. reciprocal listening between parents and children, putting words into deeds, or the need for prayer.

Mrs. Sonja Read, a Masters student specializing in the nutrition of infants in developing nations, gave a heartfelt testimony on her growing up in a religious family and on the ways she Moderated by Patrick Jouan, vice inherited the religious tradition of her president of UPF France, the first parents. Sharing some of the struggles Jacques Marion then gave a session began with a brief introduction religious adolescents feel in an often Unificationnist perspective on the by Jacques Marion, who explained the faithless environment, she explained parent-child relationship. Through plan to hold three forums this year on from her heart how she took the decision lessons from early biblical figures, he the role of parental love, siblings love to maintain her faith, which now guides drew attention to the significance of and conjugal love, on their relevance for her life. lineage and to inheriting the parental a stable society and the challenges they heart of God. He then shared about the face nowadays. essential role of parental love as the foundation for being an educator and a leader in society. He outlined the need for religions to clarify the role of ancestors, “upstream” from the parent- child relationship, as well as the dynamic restoration of love beyond life and death.

The first speaker, Father Anglarès, shared a catholic view of the family. He emphasized the role of parents as co- creators with God, and that both parents and children are a gift of God to one another. If the Church made a sacrament of marriage, he said, it is because all forms of God’s love are contained in the family. He also spoke of To begin the second session, moderated Le last speaker was Mr. Oliver Robin, the feminine and maternal aspect of by Mrs. Jennifer Lambert, a member from the Mormon Church. To a an divine love, and of the need for of WFWP France, Mrs. Brigitte attentive audience, he shared personally investment and forgiveness in family Wada, WFWP France president, about his family, giving practical details relations. outlined briefly the goals and activities on how Mormons put high priority on of her organization, emphasizing the the family in daily life: spending one Founders’ vision for women’s role in evening a week sharing and playing as a peacebuilding through their “logic of family; parents securing exclusive time love”, and for them to stand as equal with each child to develop their partners to men. relationship, etc. Questions and comments fused from all sides to the speakers, giving also an opportunity to Imam Drame or Imam Achour to clarify Islam’s view on providential figures like Abraham, or on Dr. Djelloul Seddiki exposed an Muslim family traditions. Islamic viewpoint on the family, The variety of faiths represented was referring to Koranic sources. Quoting reflected in views and convictions both notably Surahs 22, 31, or 17, he outlined multiple and convergent, and expressed God’s plan for the family, the a shared, deep desire for unity and love benevolence human beings owe to their within the family, and the importance to Pastor Agnès von Kirchbach, parents, and the union of the masculine keep the natural family strong and alive. leading the Saint-Cloud Protestant

Government laws denigrating traditional The meeting ended with the traditional family values, he shared how he came to ceremony of assigning as “Peace realize that the breakdown of the parent- Ambassador” a person dedicated to the child relationship deeply hurt young peacebuilding values espoused by UPF. people. He then decided to dedicate his The Peace Ambassador certificate was life as an educator at the service of offered to Mrs. Marie de Cesare, an fragile youth. artist and leader of the NGO “Long Métrage”. The Family and Religion Forum will resume for a second stage in September A final, very moving testimony was given 2016, and a third in November. The by a young Christian, Antoine Payeur, themes to be discussed will be about introducing his book entitled: “For me, brotherhood and marriage. living is Christ”. One of the founders in 2013 of the youth movement “Night Watchmen”, who organized vigils in front of the French Parliament and other cities in protest against French

Dr Seddiki - Imam Moussa Dramé, Ivory Coast, and Imam Achour, Omar MOsque in Paris - Michel Thao Chan, director, Cercle de réflexion des nations