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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