Bishops' Statements/Teachings
The Catholic Church has condemned human trafficking and has developed social service programs to serve and protect its survivors.
During Vatican II, the Catholic Church reaffirmed its historic concern about forced labor, stating that “slavery, prostitution, the selling of women and children, [and] disgraceful working conditions where [people] are treated as mere tools for profit, rather than as free and responsible persons” are “infamies” and “an affront to fundamental values. . . values rooted in the very nature of the human person.”
In the 2006 annual statement on migration, entitled “Migrations: A Sign of the Times,” Pope Benedict XVI deplored the “trafficking of human beings—especially women—which flourishes where opportunities to improve their standard of living or even to survive are limited.”
Pope John Paul II, in a letter on the occasion of the International Conference on “Twenty-First-Century Slavery—the Human Rights Dimension to Trafficking in Human Beings,” stated that human trafficking “constitutes a shocking offense against human dignity and a grave violation of fundamental human rights. In particular, the sexual exploitation of women and children is a particularly repugnant aspect of this trade, and must be recognized as an intrinsic violation of human dignity and human rights.”
The Catholic bishops of the United States and Mexico have also spoken out on the issue, calling upon the governments of the United States and Mexico to work together to apprehend traffickers and destroy trafficking networks: “Both governments must vigilantly seek to end trafficking in human persons. . . . Together, both governments should more effectively share information on trafficking operations and should engage in joint action to apprehend and prosecute traffickers.”
Adapted from On Human Trafficking, a resource developed by the Committee on Migration of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Ohio Legislation
On January 24, 2012, HB 262 received sponsor testimony in the House Judiciary Committee. HB 262 requires that a minor who is a victim of trafficking in persons be provided with appropriate services. It also requires that ODJFS develop procedures for reuniting the minor with family members in the minors country of origin or destination country.
On December 8, 2010 SB 235 unanimously passed the Ohio General Assembly. SB 235 establishes Human Trafficking as a specific criminal offense in Ohio.
Resources
On Human Trafficking Brochure: Committee on Migration USCCB
Respect Life Brochure on Sex Trafficking, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. 10/2010
Bulletin Insert on Human Trafficking, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. 10/2010
Ohio Trafficking in Persons Study Commission:Training and Law Enforcement Subcommittee
Report on Status of Law Enforcement Training and Interagency Communication 8/16/2010
U.S. State Department's HumanTrafficking Office
Catholic Relief Services Blog Entry: Human Trafficking has Global Reach. Ken Hackett. CRS President
Catholic Conference of Ohio Testimony in support of SB 235 regarding Human Trafficking.
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Human Trafficking Resources
Need More Information
Contact Jim Tobin , 614-224-7147
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