In an increasingly tech-driven world, some prominent Catholic thinkers and policy experts are coming together to advocate for a new agenda that puts families at the forefront of technological development.

This call for change, led by notable figures like Ryan T. Anderson, president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, and Patrick Deneen, a professor at the University of Notre Dame, urges a shift toward policies that prioritize family well-being in the face of rapid technological advancements.

The Declaration: A New Vision for Technology and Family

On January 29, 2025, a declaration titled A Future for the Family: A New Technology Agenda for the Right was published in First Things magazine.

This document, signed by 28 prominent individuals, serves as a mission statement for a larger initiative known as A Future for the Family.

It is sponsored by a range of pro-family think tanks, including the Institute for Family Studies, the Ethics and Public Policy Center, the Foundation for American Innovation, and the Heritage Foundation.

The declaration’s message is clear: while we are entering a new era of technological change, it poses a serious threat to the family unit.

Technology, as it currently stands, risks sidelining the human person and making the family structure increasingly irrelevant.

However, the authors argue that this bleak future is not inevitable.

They believe that, with the right policies, we can steer technological progress in a direction that strengthens families rather than undermining them.

Guiding Principles for a Family-Centered Technological Future

The declaration outlines 10 “guiding principles” aimed at ensuring technology serves families, not just corporate or bureaucratic interests.

Some of these principles include:

Respect for the natural cycle of mortality: Acknowledging the importance of life’s natural course in technological development.
Promotion of natural fertility methods: Encouraging technologies that support natural reproduction rather than replacing it.
Safeguarding human sexuality: Taking a strong stance against the proliferation of harmful content like pornography and AI-generated sexual material.
Addressing addictive technology: Calling for action against the addictive nature of software, particularly for children.
Data protection: Advocating for stronger privacy and data protection laws.
Enhancing human skills: Supporting technologies that improve worker satisfaction and skills.

Additionally, the declaration calls for more projects aimed at the cultivation and preservation of the natural world, ensuring that technological progress doesn’t come at the cost of environmental sustainability.

The Importance of Strengthening Families for a Better Future

The declaration concludes with a powerful statement: “To undermine the family is to undo the future.”

Strengthening the family, according to the authors, is essential to ensuring a future filled with possibility, creativity, and hope.

In a world that is increasingly shaped by technology, the signatories emphasize that families should be a central focus of policymaking.

Other notable signatories of the declaration include Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, O. Carter Snead, a law professor at the University of Notre Dame, and R.R. Reno, editor of First Things.

Together, they represent a broad coalition of thinkers and leaders committed to ensuring that technology serves humanity, rather than diminishing its value.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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