Vatican City, Oct 3, 2019 / 12:37 pm
U.S. diplomats asked the Holy See to join the multilateral International Religious Freedom Alliance Wednesday, underscoring the contributions of faith-based organizations to flourishing and free societies around the world.
Faith-based institutions unleash "spiritual capital into a society," Ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback told CNA. He said these non-governmental organizations "bring the heart and hands," helping the parts of society where governments or big institutions cannot reach.
"Governments are not real good about 'Hey, let us help you get out of alcoholism,' but churches are. That is just one quiet example," Brownback said.
A symposium held at the Vatican Oct. 2 focused on the unique role that faith-based organizations play in providing humanitarian aid, combatting human trafficking, and advancing religious freedom in different parts of the world.