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A Place for Laborers to Meet
VATICAN CITY, 10 SEPT. 2006 (ZENIT) Here is the description of the
World Movement of Christian Workers which appears in the Directory of
International Associations of the Faithful, published by the Pontifical
Council for the Laity.
* * *
Official name: World Movement of Christian Workers
Acronym: WMCW
Established: 1966
History: WMCW was created by the workers' associations of Austria,
Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands in the 1950s,
when they decided to join forces to create an international structure to
encourage exchanges and knowledge between individuals and different
situations; to stimulate solidarity between workers' movements; to
foster the spread of Christian workers' movements in the world; to
develop the apostolate in the labor world, offering a forum where
workers, whether Catholics or members of other religious denominations,
could meet; and to ensure contact with the Church and civil authorities
at worldwide level.
Founded officially in Rome to coincide with the 75th anniversary of "Rerum
Novarum," and recognized by the Holy See as an international Catholic
organization, WMCW is a member of the Conference of International
Catholic Organizations.
As a non-governmental organization it has consultative status with the
U.N. Economic and Social Council, International Labor Organization and
UNESCO.
Identity: As an educational and evangelization movement, WMCW bases its
commitment on faith in Jesus Christ, the Gospel and the social teaching
of the Church.
It is intended for men and women workers, the unemployed, temporarily
employed, pensioners and housewives who are ready to take up the
challenges of the age and commit themselves together with others
—
regardless of race, culture or creed
—
to improve their living conditions and build up a society without
exclusions.
The approach used by the movement is based on the "revision of life" and
"see-judge-act" method.
WMCW strives to achieve recognition and support by the Church and the
political authorities of civil society for the life and work of the
weakest, so that workers may take on professional, cultural and civic
responsibilities by cooperating with all men and women of good will.
Organization: The supreme organ of WMCW is the General Assembly which
meets every four years, attended by delegates of the affiliated
associations, to draw up the priorities of action for the movement and
to elect the officials [of] the executive council, the bureau and the
general secretariat.
The executive council, comprising members representing different
continents, implements the four-year program (international plan of
work) decided on by the General Assembly, and is responsible for
animating and coordinating the member movements.
The bureau
—
whose members must be of different nationalities and include at least
two women
—
comprises the president, the vice president, the secretary-general, the
deputy secretary-general and the treasurer, and is responsible for
implementing the decisions of the executive council in conjunction with
the General Secretariat.
The General Secretariat, comprising two secretaries-general and general
ecclesiastical assistant, ensures contacts between the affiliated
movements and has a representative role.
All educational and apostolic movements of adult workers who organize
their work for the benefit of all workers can become full members of
WMCW, provided that they are managed at all levels by the workers
themselves, and are recognized by the Church in their own countries.
Membership: WMCW comprises 46 full member movements and 8 corresponding
member movements which, together with a further 19 contact groups, gives
it a presence in 79 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East,
North America and South America.
Works: WMCW does not run works of its own, but the national movements
affiliated to it are often engaged in implementing development programs
and animating training centers.
Publications: INFOR is published every two months in French, English,
Portuguese, Spanish and German.
Headquarters:
Mouvement Mondial des Travailleurs Chrétiens
124, Boulevard du Jubilé
1080 Brussels
—
Belgium
Telephone: (32) 2-421-5840
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Fax 2-421-5849
E-mail: mmtc@skynet.be
© Copyright 2006
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Libreria Editrice Vaticana [adapted]
ZE06091029
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