International Catholic Jurists Forum Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The International Catholic Jurists Forum (ICJF) was established to produce, compile, and share resources on fundamental human rights under attack in the regional and international human rights protection systems. It operates as a forum for Catholic jurists and scholars to study, research, and discuss moral issues of the day related to attacks on the rights of the family, life, and religious freedom. This mission is inspired by the Holy See's document, The Charter of the Rights of the Family, which articulates fundamental principles, rights, and duties knowable by right reason as illuminated by faith.
- Income
- $59,278
- Spending
- $75,903
- Reserves
- 15.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (religion, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 15.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 28% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (4)
- $37,951 spent. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES: The International Catholic Jurists Forum (ICJF) conducts international conferences for Catholic jurists and experts: April 30 -May 05, 2025, Natural Law Summer School: Justice and Solidarity, co-sponsored as Subsidium-ICJF with the organizers: The Department of Philosophy of Law and Legal Ethics, and The Department of Roman Law and Its Centre For Law and Religious Freedom at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland. October 24-26, 2024, Man and Woman in the Order of Creation, co-sponsored with the Office of the President of Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, The Department of Theology of Franciscan University, Ethics and Public Policy Center, and The Mary Elizabeth Charitable Trust, held at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio. June 20-22, 2024, Gender Ideology and Pastoral Care: Towards the Creation of A New Pastoral Handbook for Clergy and Ministry Leaders on Questions Related to Gender Ideology, co-sponsored with Ethics and Public Policy Center, Ave Maria School of Law, and the Catholic Information Center, Washington, D.C. November 30 - 1 December 2023: co-sponsor of the 4th Biennial International Conference on Religion and Politics: A New, Even More Brave World... The Hope of Faith and the Hope of Politics. In Memory of Pope Benedict XVI, International Political Science Association, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw, Poland. 16 September 2023: International Expert Meeting (on-line): Reflections on key themes in the working document for the Synod on Synodality, namely the Instrumentum Laboris of the 16th Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (May 29). 8-10 December 2022: International Expert Meeting: A Response to the Pontifical Academy for Life's Publication: Etica teologica della Vita. Scritture, tradizione, sfide pratiche (live streamed event) Rome, Italy, Co-sponsored by Ave Maria School of Law, Ave Maria University, Ethics for Public Policy Center, Person & Identity Project. In 2022, ICJF organized two (2) international conferences, both conducted in Rome, Italy. Three (3) "on-line" conferences were conducted in 2021. In March of 2020 (prior to COVID), and in 2015, 2016, and 2018, ICJF held international conferences at Ave Maria Law School (Ave Maria, FL). In 2017 and 2018, ICJF conducted international conferences at Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University, in Warsaw. This first line of activity (international conferences) leads to ICJF's other lines of activity. Please see below (Publishing, Web Presence, and Media Alerts). ICJF conducts conferences for Catholic jurists and scholars. In 2013, the Pontifical Council for the Family and The Union of Catholic Jurists cohosted an International Conference, in Rome, entitled The Rights of the Family and the Challenges of the Contemporary World. The idea for a website was launched in 2013 at the conference cohosted by these two entities. The website developed into the ICJF organization. In 2015, ICJF incorporated in Florida under its original name, the International Center on Law, Life, Faith, and Family (ICOLF). From 2014 to 2021, conferences studied pertinent issues of the day touching on law, life, faith, and family. Past conferences have focused on persecution and genocide of Christians, the nature and meaning of equality and non-discrimination, the global compacts on migration and refugees, the nature and meaning of international human rights, and clerical sexual misconduct. Over the years, numerous international expert meetings and strategy sessions have been held at Ave Maria School Law in Naples, Florida, at the Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University, in Warsaw, and in Rome. Outcome initiatives have included the publication of books and the creation of expert coalitions and related initiatives. In 2021, the name of the organization was changed to the International Catholic Jurists Forum (ICJF) to better reflect its principal work of providing a meeting place for Catholic jurists and scholars from around the globe. In 2022, for the first time, ICJF conducted two (2) international conferences, both in Rome. Please see our website at https://icjurist.org/ for more details.
- $36,715 spent. PUBLISHING: ICJF international conferences have resulted in the publishing of scholarly books and articles as well as the formation of projects to address critical international moral issues. The following books are the published proceedings of conferences organized by ICJF, most of the editors are advisors to ICJF, many advisors of ICJF also contributed chapters in the books: Humanae Vitae and Catholic Sexual Morality, eds. Robert Fastiggi and Matthew Levering (Catholic University of America Press: 2024). Lived Experience and the Search for Truth: Revisiting Catholic Sexual Morality, eds., Deborah Savage and Robert L. Fastiggi (Enroute Books and Media: 2024). Gender Ideology and Pastoral Practice: A Handbook for Catholic Clergy, Counselors, and Ministerial Leaders, eds., Theresa Farnan, Susan Selner-Wright, and Robert L. Fastiggi (Enroute Books and Media: 2024). ICJF Executive Director interviewed for a Spanish Documentary "Valientes" (The Brave): According to an article about the above, "'Valientes' is a new documentary that promises to move and challenge audiences with stories of individuals and institutions fighting to defend Christian principles around the world. This film gives voice to those from Europe, America, and Africa who tenaciously and courageously defend natural and Christian values in the face of pressure from secularist and globalist agendas." Information about ICJF, some of its work products, and its collaboration with other organizations, is posted at the ICJF website under headings entitled, Projects, Books, Conferences, News, Resources, and Media. For example, under Projects, is a description of how ICJF "interfaces with international scholars, experts, and government officials to build strategies to assist persecuted Christians around the globe." This is referred to as "The JP II Persecution Project." (Please see ICJF's website at https://icjurist.org/icjf-projects/ for more information.) Under Books, are descriptions and book reviews of six (6) books published by Catholic scholars. For example, two of the books, Clerical Sexual Misconduct: An Interdisciplinary Analysis, and Clerical Sexual Misconduct: A Foundational Conversation, were published after ICJF's international conferences of 2018 and 2021, respectively. Please see ICJF's website at https://icjurist.org/books/ for more information.
- $1,237 spent. WEBSITE PRESENCE: ICJF disseminates information to the public through its website. There is information about (1) how ICJF began, (2) what ICJF stands for, and (3) ICJF staff, scholars, and experts (who have contributed to ICJF), as well as ICJF's board of advisors. There is also a summary of the ICJF Projects (a total of seven (7) projects currently). An addition (2024-2025) to website materials is the Synod Podcast Series on Synods and Synodality: History, Purpose, and Current Controversies. Co-sponsored by En Route Books & Media (https://enroutebooksandmedia.com/) and the International Catholic Jurists Forum (https://icjurist.org/). Dr. Robert Fastiggi and Michael Vacca, J.D., M.A. will co-moderate the podcast interviews. Description: The 2023 and 2024 Synods on Synodality have generated both interest and controversy. This seven-part series explores the role of Church synods (or councils) in Catholic history; the different types of synods (e.g. local, regional, ecumenical); and why the recent synods under Pope Francis have generated so much controversy. The final two podcasts will explore possibilities for the future of the Church. As mentioned above, ICJF's international conferences have resulted in the publishing of six (6) scholarly books. A description and book reviews (some in Italian and some in English), are posted at ICJF's website as well as links to the book publisher and other online book sellers. These ICJF Projects, book descriptions, and articles, often address critical international moral issues. For more information, please see the ICJF's website at icjurist.org. Click on About, Projects, Books, Conferences, News, Resources, and Media to see the ICJF's work product and other information.
- MEDIA ALERTS: ICJF issues "press releases" which are posted under Media at its website. These posts often address critical international moral issues. To see ICJF's media alerts, please go to ICJF's website at icjurist.org and click on "Media."
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2017.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.