Office of Faith, Justice, and Humanitarian Efforts
The Vision and Mission
The Veritas Manifesta Project, operating under the formal auspices of the Office of Faith, Justice, and Humanitarian Efforts, represents a sophisticated and unprecedented response to the mounting crises facing our global and local communities. Rooted in the Latin mandate to “Seek the Truth,” the project is motivated by a deep belief in contributing to the betterment of humanity. It serves as a spiritual and tactical “prototype” for faith-based mobilization, designed to navigate an era defined by significant economic disruption and social unrest.
Strategic Framework
The Statement of Purpose, meticulously refined and approved by the Organizing Committee during its bi-weekly Zoom conferences, establishes a dual mandate: a global vision paired with a local practice. The Committee recognizes that traditional, fragmented relief efforts—where food banks and shelters operate in isolation—are no longer sufficient to meet the “unprecedented scale” of need on the horizon. Consequently, the Statement of Purpose calls for a “national alliance” of thinkers and doers to combine resources, talent, and grassroots energy into a cohesive, unified defense.
Tactical Innovation
A defining characteristic of Veritas Manifesta is its commitment to “thinking totally out of the box”. Rather than relying solely on top-down charity, the project empowers vulnerable populations to be integral to their own solutions through collective action and community self-preservation. This involves a “massive preparation program” in which churches serve as organizing centers, fostering a sense of brotherhood that ensures no one falls through the cracks and faces despair.
The Call to Action
Under the guidance of the Organizing Committee, the project maintains a high-stakes focus on those facing persecution due to their immigration status. The approved Statement of Purpose promotes a “consciousness of empathy” that manifests in practical, “out-of-the-box” survival tools—ranging from legal powers of attorney to emergency childcare and communal resource sharing. By leveraging interfaith networks and modern technology, Veritas Manifesta aims to build a safety net that is both compassionately rooted in faith and strategically resilient against repression. Ultimately, the project is a call to unwavering action, a testament to the power of a unified faith community to protect the inherent dignity of every human being.
“Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” Hebrews 13:1-3 (NRSV)
Father Ricardo Romero is an Old Catholic priest based in California, where he serves as Director of the Office of Faith, Justice, and Humanitarian Efforts for the Old Catholic Churches International. A seasoned sound and television engineer by profession, he brings both technical expertise and a deep pastoral commitment to his work advocating for justice and humanitarian causes. He and his wife Darlene are rooted in the California community he serves.