The Power of the Church

"But this is a people plundered and looted, all of them trapped in pits or hidden in prisons. They have become plunder, with no one to rescue them; they have been made loot, with no one to say, 'Send them back.' "
Isaiah 42:22

Throughout history, people have looked to the church to support social justice movements: from civil rights to poverty to today's AIDS epidemic. Well where is the Church on human trafficking? What is its strategy and what is being done now to fight this issue?

Illinois:
The Joliet Diocesan Counsel of Catholic Women is an organization whose ministry is devoted to helping oppressed women around the world. Their work includes supporting legislation against human trafficking and legislation aimed at protecting women and children.

Wisconsin:
St. Victor Catholic Church hosted a lecture and discussion on human trafficking recently. The guest speaker was Sister Stella Storch, a member of the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes. This international organization's mission is to help end human trafficking. Also mentioned was a 16,000-member coalition of women from 63 countries that worked for the same cause.

California:
Mitch Irion, president of WingClips, brings Hollywood to church sermons. His website provides downloadable movies clips on varying topics that pastors can incorporate into their sermons to help illustrate various issues. WingClips concerns itself with several social justice issue, including human trafficking. "WingClips believes the issues need to be exposed and that the church has a responsibility to address social injustices within the community and across the world." A former pastor, Irion feels is passionate about his work: "We want our site to raise awareness and do our part to help end sex trafficking."

Washington:
A local YMCA held a workshop recently on child slavery. The speaker's, Rev. Eileen Lindner, topic "Child Trafficking Victims: Global Problem – Local Reality" brought attention to children trafficked into brothels and sweatshop. Lindner is deputy general secretary for National Council of Churches, an organization that raises money for Church World Service.

Washington DC:
Gary A. Haugen, founder of the Christian ministry International Justice Mission (IJM), was presented with a National Leadership award from the National Presbyterian Church's Center for Leadership. IJM works in Southeast Asian and African countries to free victims of forced labor and child sex slaves.

Winnipeg:
Mennonite Brethren Church calls attention to the issue and urges the religious community to pray for the victims and advocate for laws and policies to help them. An important note: "The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC) is monitoring a motion presented to parliament...calling for the condemnation of the trafficking of women and children across international borders for the purposes of sexual exploitation, slavery, and oppression."

London:
Recognizing that slavery is very much a product of the modern world, Rev Joel Edwards (head of the Evangelical Alliance), appealed to the leaders in big business to help put an end to the heinous human rights violation. Speaking at the Royal Exchange, Edwards summoned the city's top corporations to contribute more of their finances to the fight against human trafficking and modern-day slavery.

Wales:
The Archbishop of Wales directed attention to human trafficking and child labor during his Easter address saying, “We may this year be celebrating the bicentenary of the end of slavery, but sexual trafficking in young people and women is still rife in this country."

New Delhi:
Women of the Catholic Church believe that more should be done to fight social injustice against women and children. On a recent visit to several social service centers in the area, an event organized by the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences' Office of Laity and Family (FABC-OLF), the group witnessed first-hand the plight of the victims (of poverty, violence, trafficking). One inspired woman from Eastern India proclaimed, "I will start a network to raise awareness on trafficking in our diocese."

From these stories and others, it is clear that human trafficking is very much on the minds and in the hearts of the religious community. In the fight for social justice, the Church has been and will continue to be an invaluable ally.