“Freedom begins with speaking the truth.” Victor Orban

 

We are thrilled to welcome you to World Congress of Families, XI in the sublime and storied city of Budapest.

It is fitting that we gather together in Hungary, a nation that has a proud history in standing for truth with courage and common-sense.  Just one example in Hungary’s long history of heroic virtue is her steely-eyed determination to stand against the last century’s cruel attempts to undermine human freedom in the form of the communist regime. Determination to speak timeless truths freely in the face of armed and false ideologies stretches deep into Hungarian history and is rooted deeply within the Hungarian soul.

We come to Budapest from different countries, cultures, and religions.  But we gather here at the World Congress of Families in unity to ourselves celebrate and affirm a timeless truth: the family.  The family is a fundamental and natural reality, a truth so deeply embedded in who we are that to deny it is to deny reality itself.  We gather here to affirm the beauty of the simple truth that men and women are made for each other, that children are a great blessing to family and nation, that human life is beautiful and sacred.

Today the Hungarian people have been blessed with leaders that not only understand these truths, but have actively promoted and encouraged the family to the great benefit of all.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Victor Orban, Hon. Zoltan Balog and Hon. Katalin Novak, Hungary has enacted concrete policies to affirm and promote the family.  Hungary has made “The Family-Friendly Country” motto and logo a defining part of what the nation is and what it strives to be.  This determined promotion of the family is an example to all nations.

It has been an honor and privilege to work with Secretary Novak’s team.  We also are grateful to our co-sponsors, CitizenGo, the National Organization for Marriage, and the International Organization for the Family. Their work and support is what made this World Congress possible.

Our goal at every World Congress is to unite and equip leaders to promote the natural family.  We hope you take advantage of the immense knowledge represented by the over one hundred leaders who will make presentations.  We hope you take the time to develop friendships with other attendees from around the world.  We hope you take the time to savor the beauty of Budapest.  But, above all, we hope that you leave here more firmly dedicated to promoting the timeless reality of the family.

 

God bless,

Brian S. Brown

President

World Congress of Families