The International Catholic Legislators Network (“ICLN”) exists to educate, empower and connect in fellowship a new generation of courageous Christian leaders of unwavering professionalism, serving in or for public office whilst operating and cooperating effectively in a multi-faceted and crisis-ridden world. Our mission is not to find the solutions, but to provide the setting, education and tools for the right people to do so.
From its inception in 2010, the organization’s powerful convening mechanism has brought together Christian leaders from across the globe, irrespective of their political affiliation. They have in common the profound desire to live in Christ and to grow in friendship whilst building strong and lasting standards of moral integrity in the execution of their duties and responsibilities in or for public office. Christian leaders often find themselves ill-equipped to attain this high standard, mostly due to a lack of access to the necessary ethical, theological, scientific and factually relevant expertise, as well as a network of friends, peers and faith leaders to support them.
 The ICLN leadership with Cardinal Christoph Schönborn and Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II |
Over the years, the ICLN has grown exponentially and has addressed this challenge by offering solid content, spiritual formation and global networking opportunities. Increasingly, the ICLN has also been asked to quietly engage (pro-)actively in helping to build bridges between political leaders, individual nations, non-profit organizations and churches. We do this through private diplomatic initiatives and providing an independent international platform for policy coordination work amongst legislators, government officials and policy experts. The ICLN does not itself engage in lobbying or political activism and operates under the principles of non-partisanship and the Chatham House Rule of confidentiality.
Additionally, the Fellowship of Young Christian Global Leaders (YCGL), initiated in 2022, brings together young men and women from all continents, aged 20-35, whom we see as the future political leaders that our world is in great need of: deeply rooted in their Christian faith, with maturity of character, and growing to become principled men and women who wish to take responsibility through a compelling vision, with integrity and professionalism.
The ICLN is a non-profit limited liability company under the internationally respected regimen of Austrian company law, with a permanent staff and headquarters in Vienna and a corresponding legally and financially independent partner office in Washington D.C. as well as representative offices in Nairobi and Singapore.