Pope Calls for Action Against Trafficking in EU, Africa

Published April 06, 2009 @ 12:00PM PT

As part of a series of remarks leading up to the Easter holiday this weekend, Pope Benedict XVI demanded immediate action by the European Union and African nations to stop human trafficking, saying the global economic crisis was driving more people into slavery. During Palm Sunday mass yesterday, Benedict said of global human slavery and smuggling,

"We cannot resign ourselves to such tragedies, which unfortunately have been repeating themselves for some time".

The impetus for Pope Benedict's remarks was last week's tragedy, over 200 Libyan migrants drowned when their boat overturned on their way to Europe. News reports have not indicated whether some or all of the people killed were migrating legally or willingly.

I'm thrilled that the Pope, who has tremendous influence over the numerous Catholics in the EU and Africa, is calling those countries to action. But I'd like to see him and the Catholic Church dedicate some of the Vatican's substantial coffers to addressing human trafficking, especially in their backyard in Italy. The Catholic Church is both resourced and has a well-developed system of communication between the church leaders and members, and they could easily use those resources to fight human trafficking in a more direct way. This is a global human tragedy of epic proportions, and all people of faith should be called to take action to prevent and address it.

In related news, I recently interviewed Pope Benedict's predecessor, Pope John Paul II about human trafficking, and he had a lot to say.

Image from gambianow.com

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Comments (5)

It may not very much of a blessing. This is a church that has called for denying emergency contraception for victims of rape (including in war zones), and long serving the interests of the elite who caused the global economic crisis. Further, the church represented the largest pedophilia scandal and cover-up in modern history. It was most likely that these words were an insincere gesture and part of a political move. Rev. Bookburn - Radio Volta

Posted by Rev Bookburn on 04/06/2009 @ 03:03PM PT
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I would respectfully disagree. Although you may not agree with the Catholic Church's position on contraception, it remains consistently dedicated to an ethic of preserving and protecting life. I admire how the Church has held true to that touchstone even when short term pragmatism might suggest otherwise. I think Pope Benedict's call for action is sincere and I think Amanda's comment that he could commit resources to that action is well founded. However, should we not support the Church's initial forays toward that action? To decry it seems to take us further from our goal of ending human trafficking rather than closer to it.

Your comments about the pedophilia scandal are of course, sadly accurate. The Catholic Church, being an institution comprised of humans, can and has shamed itself. But no institution or person is beyond redemption, understood in whatever way one wishes. Should we not let this Pope take steps that might lead the Church in that direction?

Posted by Heather Windsor on 04/06/2009 @ 03:24PM PT
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Religion has no right to tell anyone to do anything or not to do anything! I'm so sick of it, I'm sorry but it's not one's resposiblity for the other to do right! You can say oh we're saving the planet!! NO YOUR NOT! You have no idea what you are doing! PLEASE!!!! People are going to do what people are going to do! I'm so sick of arresting people for VICTIM LESS CRIME! Let's give those horrors a job darn it!!! Let's lower the crime rate, and put the dirt bags away!! Murders, rapist, theives ect.... Not someone that's in a undisclosed location having sex with someone for money that I really know nothing about exsept when the media exposes it!!! I'm sick in tired of it!! People are getting screwed by the system all the time, it's not cool... No one cares until it happens to them!!!! We should not be arresting people for SEX!!!!

Posted by Justin Mondry on 04/06/2009 @ 05:21PM PT
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>>Religion has no right to tell anyone to do anything or not to do anything!>I'm so sick of arresting people for VICTIM LESS CRIME!***Murders, rapist, theives ect.... Not someone that's in a undisclosed location having sex with someone for money that I really know nothing about exsept when the media exposes it!!!<<

But again, I think you're missing the point. It's NOT a victimless crime. Most prostitutes could reasonably be described as slaves with no choice. They ARE vicitims. It'd probably be better to say they should arrest the ABUSERS rather than the victims themselves.

You could look at the other blog post on this site

http://humantrafficking.change.org/actions/view/dont_buy_commercial_sex

and maybe do a little more reading on the subject. Here is a link to a really good book about it...

http://books.google.com/books?id=9hABjqHCbpMC&printsec=frontcover&dq=enslaved

It's the personal stories of modern human slaves. The chapter "My life as a slave in America" (pg. 61) details graphically (so be warned) the ordeal of an American sex slave. Please do some reading and become more informed. Information is the number one tool needed to fight this.

Posted by g x on 04/07/2009 @ 06:22AM PT
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Interesting that on this particular post, organized religion gets people angrier than slavery. Im not going to defend everything that organized religion has done, but sheesh, people, have a little perspective.

Posted by Slim Chance on 04/07/2009 @ 12:44PM PT
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Amanda has been a full-time abolitionist for six years. During that time, she has created reports, documentaries and training materials on human trafficking in the United States and around the world.