Advocacy Social Justice

Archdiocese Combatting Racism 

Bread for the World - "Seeking Justice, Ending Hunger"

Catholic Campaign for Human Development - USCCB

Catholic Charities USA

Catholic Climate Covenant

Catholic Mobilizing Network 

Catholic Relief Services

Catholics Confront Global Poverty - USCCB and Catholic Relief Services

Citizens' Climate Lobby - Climate Change

Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development - USCCB

Education for Justice 

Environment - USCCB 

Justice for Immigrants - USCCB

National Catholic Partnership on Disability

Network - A Catholic Social Justice Lobby

Pax Christi - The National Catholic Peace Movement

ProLife Activites – USCCB

January 28, 2015

BISHOP'S LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

All Texas Catholics are urged to get involved and support the Bishop's legislative agenda by participating in the following activities: 
 

• Pray that our Texas legislators will hear the voice of Catholics throughout the state.
• Learn more about the Texas Catholic Conference Legislative Agenda.
• Sign up for action alerts through the Texas Catholic Network.
• Join us for the Catholic Faith in Action Advocacy Day on March 24, 2015. Don't have an advocacy day t-shirt? Wear royal blue!
• Call and let your representatives know that you support the Bishops. 
• Learn about current legislation that the Texas Catholic Conference and why we are supporting or opposing certain bills.
• For more details on how you can be a part of the 2015 Texas Catholic Faith in Action Advocacy Day, please contact Pennie DeGroot in the Social Concerns Ministry office at pdegroot@stlaurence.org

October 29, 2014
 

• Of the 20.9 million victims of trafficking and human slavery worldwide, 9.1 million victims (44 percent) have been trafficked internally or internationally.
• 11.8 million are subjected to forms of modern slavery in their place of origin or residence within their own national borders.
• Nearly 1.5 million victims are currently laboring in conditions of forced labor, sexual exploitation and servitude in the United States, Canada and developed countries of the EU
• 55 percent of forced labor victims are women and girls, as are 98 percent of sex trafficking victims.
• Children aged 17 years and below represent 26 percent of total victims, representing a total of 5.5 million child victims worldwide.

Why is Human Trafficking So Prevalent?
Owing to the lack of anti-human trafficking laws, enforcement of such laws where they exist, along with the ease and ability to re-exploit individuals, human trafficking has become one of the fastest growing sources of profits for criminal enterprises worldwide.  Though efforts to combat it have been increasing, human trafficking has been experiencing a dramatic resurgence in recent years according to the ILO.
 
Traffickers lure vulnerable men, women and children with false promises of good jobs, an education, economic security and even love. Once lured, the traffickers are able to keep their victims from seeking help by confiscating identification documents, using threats of violence against the victim or their family, as well as subjecting the victim to physical, psychological and/or sexual abuse.
 
No sector or industry is immune from human trafficking.  Victims have been identified in factories, restaurants, construction work, agricultural fields, hotels, spas, nail salons, and even private residences.

Catholic Social Teaching & Human Trafficking
The Catho­lic Church's vehement opposition to human trafficking is rooted in principles of Catholic social teaching, central to which is the sacredness and dignity of human life, and in the Catechism of the Catholic Church which "for­bids acts or enterprises that, for any reason, lead to the enslavement of human beings – to their being bought, sold, and exchanged like merchandise, in disregard for their personal dignity." The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Committee on Migration's Statement On Human Trafficking clearly outlines the Church's teaching on human trafficking, noting "Human trafficking is a horrific crime against the basic dignity and rights of the human person. All efforts must be expended to end it."
 
For over a decade the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has been a leader in the U.S. and global response to human trafficking, and has even established an Anti-Trafficking Program within the Migration and Refugee Services Department to coordinate the response of the U.S. Church. Explore the link below to learn more about the Church's effort and to find out how you can help.

Learn how to Be Part of the Solution, Be observant (Identify victims in your community and respond appropriately), Spread the Word, Be informed and Become a Shepherd.  Visit the USCCB webpage at http://www.usccb.org/about/anti-trafficking-program/


Catholic Charities ADVOCACY page

USCCB "Take Action Now" page