Le Secours catholique et les forums sociaux une politisation incrementale (2003 2010)
Astudy carried out among members of the Secours Catholique delegation to the 2009 World Social Forum in Belem shows how the social forum experience has contributed to renewing activist practices within this Catholic NGO. Although the exclusion of all forms of politicization was a prerequisite of Secours Catholique's participation in these events, some activists have adopted more subtle positions concerning the possible relationship between political and charitable involvement, even going so far as to identify politicization as a necessary outcome of their activities. This process of politicization can be described as incremental to the degree that it is the product of marginal adjustments. Participation in the forums offers this group of activists a resource that helps them legitimize their adoption of innovative roles and renews the definition of the institution. Indeed, this openness to political action is accompanied by the internal promotion of a new definition of Secours Catholique action in addition to helping the poor, this institution now also commits itself to fighting injustice alongside of them.