International Union of Catholic Jurists

OFFICIAL NAME

International Union of Catholic Jurists

 

ACRONYM

UIJC (Union Internationale des Juristes Catholiques)

 

ESTABLISHED

1986

 

HISTORY

The UIJC has its origins in associations of Catholic lawyers in different countries, beginning in the 1940s. Following the Second World War, Catholic lawyers found a forum in the International Catholic Movement for Intellectual and Cultural Affairs (see page 117), but they did not have their own organisation to support their apostolate in contemporary society. The first attempt to create one was made in 1979 at an international congress organised in Manila, Philippines, chaired by Cardinal Opilio Rossi, then the President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity. After various other meetings in Rome, the constituent General Assembly was convened in Paris in 1986, which marked the foundation of UIJC, giving it its first statutes. In order to strengthen ties between the national associations forming part of the Union, in 1991 a Colloquium was organised in Rome attended by Catholic lawyers from 17 countries in three continents. On 17 October 2002, the Pontifical Council for the Laity decreed recognition of the Union Internationale des Juristes Catholiques as an international association of the faithful of Pontifical Right.

 

IDENTITY

The purpose of UIJC is to contribute towards upholding or reintroducing Christian principles into the philosophy and science of law, and legislative, judicial and administrative activities, teaching and research and public and professional life. The Union, which is open to the general and local problems of the contemporary world and seeks solutions that are faithful to the Gospel, the tradition of the Church and the true Magisterium, strives for recognition of and respect for natural and Christian law in a spirit of justice and charity; to protect human life from conception to natural death; to affirm the dignity of the human person and the rights and duties that stem therefrom; to defend and promote the Christian conception of the family; to disseminate and implement the social teaching of the Church, particularly in the legal field.

 

ORGANISATION

UIJC is governed by the Assembly of Delegates, made up of the President of the Union and the Presidents of the national associations, which decides on the four-year management of the Executive Board and on all matters put to it by the Board; the Executive Board, which is responsible for managing and animating the Union composed of the President, the Vice Presidents, the Secretary General, the Treasurer and the Ecclesiastical Assistant; the President, who is elected by the Assembly of Delegates, and is the legal representative of the Association.

 

MEMBERSHIP

UIJC has 14 member associations in 14 different countries, as follows: Asia (2), Europe (7), North America (1), Oceania (1) and South America (3).

 

PUBLICATIONS

Juristes du monde entier, an annual review.

 

WEB SITE

http://www.cathojuris.org

 

HEADQUARTERS

Union Internationale des Juristes Catholiques 

3, rue du Midi - 92200 Neuilly/Seine, Paris - France

Tel.             [+33]1.53810552       - Fax 1.53810094

Email: jm.de.forges@libertysurf.fr

Events


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On 1 September 2016 the

Pontifical Council for the Laity
ceased its activities.
Its responsibilities and duties
have been taken over by the
Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life.

 

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