Recent news

Dear Brothers,

The General Council of the Order, in its meeting of September 2009, gave approval to a recommendation of the Secretariat for Justice and Peace to propose a yearly theme for promotion and action throughout the Order. Taking into account the special focus which the General Chapter of 2007 has chosen to give to the Asia-Pacific area in the years 2007-2013, the Secretariat proposes for the coming year the social issue of Human Trafficking. The Secretariat wishes to announce this initiative at the beginning of the Advent Season in order that, throughout the following twelve month period, friars will give special attention to this topic in their study, prayer and ministry. The Secretariat, for its part, will provide resource material in the areas of education, formation and liturgy, and asks that local communities and apostolic ministries share these resources, in whatever way possible, with those laity and religious with whom they collaborate and to those to whom they minister. In this way the Order seeks, through a unified effort, to have a significant impact regarding this important issue in society today.

Two years ago, the Union of Superiors General, both of men's and women's communities, together with Caritas Internationalis issued a joint declaration on the subject of Human Trafficking. In part, they said,

"Trafficking in human beings is seen as one of the worst affronts to human dignity and violations of human rights. The Unions of Superiors General (USG/UISG), representing more than a million religious men and women worldwide) and Caritas Internationalis (CI, with 162 Member Organizations active in over 200 countries and territories) have each, in their strategic plans, demonstrated their determination to oppose this 21st century form of global slavery. Both organizations see this as an opportune moment to declare their commitment to work together in this endeavor. It is also appropriate and timely to make a formal call on religious institutes of men and of women worldwide and on Caritas Internationalis and its member organizations to consolidate their collaboration in countering the trafficking of human beings."

The General Council of the Order, through the Secretariat for Justice and Peace, invites each friar and every community to participate in this year-long effort to become better acquainted with this critical and escalating human rights violation and to invite others as well, through our schools and churches, our work with youth and lay movements, in our contacts with leaders of Church and society, to take action on behalf of those who are powerless to help themselves.

With fraternal best wishes,

Fr. Alejandro Moral, OSA and Fr. Michael Di Gregorio, OSA
for the Secretariat for Justice and Peace

Trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery. Each year an estimated 700,000 to 1.5 million people worldwide fall victim to international traffickers. These victims, predominately women and children, are forced into unpaid labor, debt bondage, coerced prostitution or sexual servitude, often under the direction of international organized crime rings. The trafficking of human beings is the third largest source of profit for international organized crime, after drugs and arms, with revenue amounting to billions of dollars each year. (From the website of the SSND)

back to  Recent news..