Aid to the Church in Need
Acronym: ACN
General Information
Identification Code: 118236613508-31
Website: [object Object]
Entity Form: Pontifical Foundation
Registration Category: Organisations representing churches and religious communities
Registration Date: 4/23/2014
Last Update: 8/30/2023
EP Accredited Number: 0
Mission & Interests
Goals: As set out in the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Charitable Company the objects of Aid to the Church in Need’s mission are:
- to advance the Christian religion by supporting and promoting the Church, especially in countries where Christians are suffering persecution or discrimination;
- to further the other charitable work of the Church by providing practical assistance and pastoral care for persons in need, especially those who are living in, or are refugees from, such countries.
Principles of Action:
Catholicity
In fundraising we are one charity with many national offices.
In administering funds we are responsive to the suffering Church in all parts of the world.
Service
In dealing with project partners we emphasize attentive listening, frank consultation and respect for the authority of the local bishop.
Subsidiarity
In sponsoring specific projects we take care not to replace any local means of solidarity, but rather to encourage and (...)
Interests Represented: Does not represent commercial interests
Interests:
- Borders and security
- Education and training
- Enlargement
- European neighbourhood policy
- External relations
- Food safety
- Foreign affairs and security policy
- Humanitarian aid and civil protection
- International co-operation and development
- Justice and fundamental rights
- Migration and asylum
- Trade
- Youth
Levels of Interest:
- global
Activities
Main EU Legislative Proposals: Within the 3 main EU institutions, follow and communicate about the following policies: Foreign and Security, Human Rights in general and Freedom of Religion or Belief in particular; Youth, Education and Culture; Neighborhood; Development; Emergency and Humanitarian Aid; Home Security (migration issues in particular); International Trade.
Since ACN funds projects in most all countries in the world, it is important to follow the different policy aspects of the relation of the EU with the country where the projects are taking place. In the last few years, the resurgence of the transcontinental caliphate in sub-Saharan Africa, the support to Lebanon, Syria and Iraq, and the cases of abduction and rape of women and girls from religious minorities have been a central area of concern, but nevertheless petitions of support from the rest of the world continue being tended to.
Communication Activities: Even through the pandemic restrictions we organized virtual/online high-level visit programmes to the EU institutions by delegations of representatives of the Catholic Church who come out from war or other conflict zones in order to inform first-hand the policy-makers about what is going on locally. Delegations visiting include: Nigeria, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Pakistan, Ukraine, Central African Republic, Bosnia. We present regularly our publications "Religious Freedom in the World Report" and "Persecuted and Forgotten?". According to relevance, we distribute press releases issued by local social workers and Catholic hierarchy to EU representatives with a responsibility for the issue or geographical zone.
Inter-institutional or Unofficial Groupings: Anti-racism and diversity,Christians in the Middle East,Freedom of religion and religious tolerance
Head Office
Address: Bisschof-Kindermansstrasse, 23
Post Code: 61462
City: Königstein
Country: GERMANY
Phone: [object Object]
EU Office
Address: Square de Meeus 19
Post Code: 1050
City: Brussels
Country: BELGIUM
Phone: [object Object]
Financial Data
New Organisation: false
Closed Year: [object Object]
Current Year: [object Object]
Complementary Information: ACN according to its statutes receives no funding from any governmental nor multilateral entity.
Membership Information
Members10 Percent: 0
Members25 Percent: 1
Members50 Percent: 1
Members75 Percent: 0
Members: 2
Members F T E: 0.75
Info Members: There is one EU Liaison Officer in Brussels, seconded by a Communications Consultant to the EU Liaison Office. The pandemic having upended regular presence of EU officials in their offices AND the obtention of Schengen visas for our first-hand witnesses and Human Rights defenders, we encounter more and more difficulties to make the case of the suffering of millions outside the EU. We participate regularly via video as speakers in EP Committee sessions, group hearings, and meetings with EC officials.
Structure
Structure Type: Structure
Is Member Of: No affiliations
Organisation Members: ACN is under the direct supervision of the Holy See. No other affiliation exists.