The Catholic Network on Population, Parenthood and Development was formed in 2012 by a group of concerned Catholics from a range of different institutions and perspectives, with the aim of making an informed and constructive contribution to international debates about questions of population and development, in the context of Catholic social thought and teaching.
Members of the network are individuals and do not act as representatives of the organisations and groups to which they belong, but they bring with them a wide range of expertise in the fields of theology and ethics, international development, public health, health care and policy-making. Working in close collaboration with representatives of the United Nations, NGOs and academics, they seek to promote dialogue that puts human dignity and well-being, social justice and environmental sustainability at the forefront of international debates about population and development.
The original group of approximately fifteen professionals came together several times, each of which involved an increasing number of persons interested in the project. In April 2014 a decision was taken to produce a collection of resource materials. This resulted in the publication of a special issue of The Heythrop Journal on "Faith, Family, and Fertility" (November 2014). The core group expanded the network to include at least one hundred participants who are linked through e-mail and who share the goals of the project. In December 2014, when the preparatory document for the 2015 Synod of Bishops on the Family and its accompanying questions were released, it was decided to create a channel of information aimed at reaching as many persons as possible who are concerned about the outcome of the two Synods on the Family in October 2014 and October 2015.
The primary aim of this website is to inform concerned Catholics about the topics under discussion and to make these topics as accessible as possible to the general public so that they may participate in the discussions and have their voice heard. A secondary aim of this initiative is to invite professional persons (in theology, ethics, international development, public health, health care, and policy making) to join the network by announcing their support to the chairperson of the network, Dr. Gillian Paterson, via e-mail.
STEERING GROUP:
The following are members of the steering group of the Catholic Network for Population and Development. Please note that institutional affiliations are included only for information – membership is on an individual basis and neither constitutes nor implies official representation of any group or organisation.
Chair:
Dr Gillian Paterson
Heythrop College, University of London
Contact: g.paterson@heythrop.ac.uk
Members:
Professor Tina Beattie
University of Roehampton, London
Contact: t.beattie@roehampton.ac.uk
Julie Clague,
University of Glasgow
Contact: j.clague@glasgow.ac.uk
René Grotenhuis
Associate researcher, Utrecht University (former chief executive officer of Cordaid)
Contact: rene.grotenhuis@planet.nl
Michael Kuhn
Visiting Research Fellow, Heythrop College
Contact: michael.kuhn@skynet.be
Jim McManus
Director of Public Health for Hertfordshire,
Visiting Fellow, Heythrop College, London
Contact: jim.mcmanus@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Lizzette Robleto-Gonzalez
Head of Policy, Progressio
Contact: lizzette@progressio.org.uk
Emeritus Professor Joseph A. Selling
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Contact: Joseph.Selling@THEO.KULEUVEN.BE
Revd Dr James Sweeney
Heythrop College, London
Contact: j.sweeney@heythrop.ac.uk
