Religious orders act to end trafficking

On May 2, the "New York Coalition of Religious Congregations: Stop Trafficking of Persons (STOP)" will gather at the Capitol in Albany to lobby legislators on human trafficking.

The group plans "to advocate for anti-human trafficking legislation that would ensure stiff penalties for perpetrators, while providing much-needed services to their victims," said Sister Marianne Comfort, CSJ.

She is part of a group that will represent the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, whose Provincial House is in Latham.

The order has a "focus on nonviolence and peacemaking that we all are trying to live out in various ways, both individually and corporately," she said.

Common effort

Other religious orders have, for the past several years, been involved in working toward improving legislation, but the coalition extends beyond Catholics.

Sister Kathleen Pritty, RSM, noted that the group's 80-plus members include representatives from labor, women's rights groups and the legal profession.

The justice coordinator for the Sisters of Mercy/Northeast Community, she said that the coalition has three goals: better education, stronger legislation, and the establishment of a safe place for those victimized by traffickers.

Bills on tap

A bill in the State Assembly has several provisions that the group hopes legislators adopt: strong penalties for offenders; an agreed-upon definition of human trafficking; involvement of local police in investigations now done only on a federal level; and comprehensive victim services.

Sister Kathleen said that the Assembly bill has already passed, but it stalled in the State Senate.

"The Senate bill is very weak," she explained. "They are concerned primarily with the cost of incarcerating traffickers and the expense of providing safe-house services to victims."

Real-life example

As an example of what the coalition is seeking to remedy, Sister Kathleen cited a situation that occurred a few years ago.

"A large number of undocumented persons were discovered living in a house that had just two rooms," she said. "Because New York State has no current law under which they could be prosecuted, the federal government was called in. The undocumented persons were moved to New York City, detained for a while and then deported. Almost two years passed before the case went to court. By that time, the victims were long gone, so there was little evidence to prosecute the offenders."

The new legislation "would change that," she continued. "It would allow a safe house for the victims of human traffickers so they could provide testimony, allowing local law enforcement to prosecute the offenders."

Taking a stand

The Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary will also participate in the lobby day.

"Our sisters have taken a corporate stand against all human trafficking," noted Jane Pattison a Holy Names associate.

Mrs. Pattison, vice president of the pastoral council at St. Francis de Sales Church in Troy, added, "I actually met a woman who had been 'trafficked.' Hearing her story moved me enough to do something about this issue. I can't even imagine having my personal freedoms totally removed."

(4/26/07) [[In-content Ad]]