The president of the Asociación Católica de Propagandistas (ACdP), José Masip, defended this Wednesday that he prefers «a Church with faith than a full one» during the informative meeting at which the Congreso Católicos y Vida Pública was presented. The congress will hold its 28th edition from November 13 to 15 at the Universidad CEU San Pablo in Madrid. Masip, elected to lead the association last July, also stressed that the congress does not intend to guide the vote of attendees, at a time when general elections are scheduled for November 29, just two weeks after the event.
«We come to evangelize, not to engage in party politics, which is much smaller than bringing faith to the world», he stated. Masip also asked not to mix faith with politics «because it is not fair before the Lord», although he later expressed his desire for Catholics to be «more present in politics» and for young members of the ACdP to participate in it.
More than 1,300 registered and a congress dedicated to Hispanidad
The congress is titled «America and Spain: the faith that unites us. A round-trip journey» and focuses on Hispanidad as a reality that, according to the organizers, «exists, works and benefits» those who speak Spanish on both sides of the Atlantic. Its director, María San Gil, reported that there are more than 1,300 registered participants, about 800 in person and around 530 online, with an increase in subscribers from Latin American countries.
The inauguration will be led by the apostolic nuncio in Spain, Piero Pioppo. Among the speakers are former Chilean Minister of Justice and Human Rights Hernán Larraín, who will speak about Spain and Latin America in a crisis scenario; former Peruvian congresswoman Adriana Tudela, who will address the limits of the State; and Mexican Governor of Chihuahua María Eugenia Campos, who will discuss humanist politics. Lay representatives from Regnum Christi, Avanzada Católica and the Cruzadas de Santa María will also share their testimonies.
The day dedicated to young people will feature René Ponte, known as «Rene ZZ», the group Hakuna and Pablo Sánchez Bergasa. On the other hand, the edition is dedicated to the memory of Carlos Ortiz, one of its promoters, who directed the CEU School Area and died in the Urda (Toledo) train accident.
The ACdP, an association of laypeople with public presence
The ACdP is a private association of lay faithful with Ignatian roots, founded in Madrid at the beginning of the 20th century by Jesuit Ángel Ayala. It has about 400 active members, of whom 20% are under 40 years old, and manages four universities (Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and Valencia), two affiliated centers in Extremadura and Palma de Mallorca, and numerous schools with more than 50,000 students.
Masip reached the presidency at the assembly on July 18, where he won with 248 votes against 60 for Rafael Rodríguez-Ponga, as reported by InfoVaticana. He succeeds Alfonso Bullón de Mendoza, who had completed the two terms allowed by the statutes. Masip recalled that the mission of the association is the presence of Catholics in public life, including the political sphere.