Human Trafficking

Human Trafficking Committee of the Commission for Justice

Mary Rita Boyle, SSJ                             Pat Madden, SSJ

Mary Elizabeth Farrell, SSJ                     Eileen Marnien, SSJ

Agnes Gunn, SSJ                                  Meaghan Patterson, SSJ

Mary Beth Hamm , SSJ                          Dot Urban , SSJ

Linda Klaiss, SSJ                                   Maureen Patricia Walsh, SSJ

                                

Corporate Stand Against Human Trafficking

We, the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, whose mission is one of unity and reconciliation, proclaim individually and corporately our opposition to the slavery of human trafficking in all its forms, and in every place where it exists.

 

We affirm the dignity of all life; therefore, we join our voices with Pope Benedict XVI, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and all persons of good will who have denounced this international crime that exploits innocent and helpless victims, most of whom are women and children.

 

At the same time, we commit ourselves to raise public awareness of the magnitude, reasons for and consequences of human trafficking, to work in collaboration with others to address and eliminate its root causes, and to support those who minister directly to victims of this crime.

 

As women of the gospel, we challenge ourselves, our Associates in Mission, partners in ministry; and leaders in all sectors of society to take appropriate action to stem the tide of this gross violation of human rights. We endeavor to heal the pain that this difficult situation creates for poor, marginalized, and fragile members of the human family.   (October 14, 2008)

 

The vision of our founders, the first six women and Jean Pierre Medaille, SJ, in the mid 17th century is still our vision today: a vision founded to meet the miseries or sufferings of the time. Today, that vision enables us to hear the cries of those trapped in the darkness of global trafficking.

At the heart of Catholic social teaching is the dignity of the human person. Prayer, awareness, and action will help overcome this evil which is a blatant violation of basic human dignity.

WHAT IS Human Trafficking?...It is Slavery!

Many of us have read about or have images of African slaves being brought to the western world in the early history of our country. We think of it as something out of the past, it couldn't happen today…but, it does! Human trafficking is slavery and it is happening TODAY!

Women, children, and men are recruited, abducted, transported and sold through fraud and deception. They are then forced into slave conditions for commercial sex and forced labor.

Millions of human beings are paid little or no money, locked away, and controlled by violence, intimidation, and fear. They are forced to labor in sweatshops, places of prostitution, restaurants, hotels, fields, and homes as domestics.

O Loving God: 
We pray for the eradication of the trafficking of women, children, and me;

We pray for the victims of trafficking who have been abused and forced to live in constant fear, that they may be freed;

We pray for those who are buying, selling, and holding other human beings enslaved, that they
may have a change of heart.

Compassionate God, hear our prayer and the prayers of the victims of human trafficking. Amen.

 

HELPFUL WEBSITES

Campaign to Rescue and Restore Victims of Human Trafficking

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking

Polaris Project:  

http://www.polarisproject.org/polarisproject

Sisters of the Divine Savior: 

http://www.sdssisters.org/slavery

Stop Trafficking Newsletter: 

http://homepage.mac.com/srjeanschafersds/stoptraffic/

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

http://www.nccbuscc.org/mrs/traffickingweb.shtml

 

RESOURCES

 

In order to better educate ourselves and others and to prepare for appropriate action, the Human Trafficking Committee of the SSJ Commission for Justice is providing the materials listed below:

Human Trafficking Brochure (English) – Awareness-raising brochure can be distributed in churches, etc.

Folleto que trafica humano (Espanol) -- el conocimiento que levanta el folleto se puede distribuir en iglesias, el etc.

Human Trafficking Cards Set of 8 -- Stories of trafficked persons and websites for further exploration
        

Human Trafficking Parish Resource Packet - A variety of materials that can be used in a parish

Parish Bulletin Announcement   Bulletin Insert    (Fall)

Parish Bulletin Announcement   Bulletin Insert    (Winter)

Parish Bulletin Announcement   Bulletin Insert    (Spring)

 

Overview of Trafficking Awareness Efforts - Brochure explains the efforts of the Sisters of Saint Joseph in raising awareness of human trafficking.  Includes list of videos/DVDs.

     

      

                          

 

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