God’s Children are not for Sale
Dear All Saints Parish Family,
In this month of January, we are called to reflect on a sobering but urgent issue: human trafficking. Designated as National Human Trafficking Awareness Month, this time beckons us to be reawakened to the great evil of the countless lives exploited through modern slavery. Victims of trafficking—whether for labor or sexual exploitation—suffer grievous harm and often live in fear and isolation. As Christians, we cannot be silent in the face of this violation of human dignity.
In his teachings, St. John Paul II provided us with a powerful lens through which to understand and confront this evil. He wrote and spoke frequently of the personalistic norm, a principle that recognizes the inherent dignity of every person. According to this norm, a human person must never be used as a means to an end, an object of use. St. John Paul II reminded us: “A person is the kind of being toward which the only proper and adequate response is love.” Human trafficking is a gross contradiction of this truth, reducing persons created in the image of God to mere commodities for profit, stripping them of their freedom and moral agency.
Our response to human trafficking must be rooted in this conviction of human dignity. We are called not only to awareness but also to action. Pope Francis has repeatedly called human trafficking a “crime against humanity,” urging us to pray, advocate, and support efforts to eradicate this evil. There are many ways we can contribute: educating ourselves and others, supporting organizations that rescue and rehabilitate victims, and advocating for laws and policies that protect vulnerable populations.
Tragically, the United States in general, and the city and suburbs of Atlanta in particular, are hotbeds of trafficking activity, so we ought to be particularly alert and aware.
Tonight, Sunday, January 19, at 6:15PM in the Social Hall, we will host a presentation by parishioners Chris Carr, Attorney General for the State of Georgia, and Lora Trent, Survivor Support Manager for Safe House Project who will inform us and encourage us to be part of the solution against this great evil.
Throughout this month especially, let us pray for the victims of trafficking, for their freedom, healing, and restoration. Let us also pray for the conversion of those who perpetrate these crimes and for a society that upholds the dignity of every person. May we be instruments of God’s justice and compassion, working to build a world where every human being is treated with the love and respect they deserve.
Praised be Jesus Christ, now and forever!
All you holy saints of God, pray for us!
Peace in Christ,
Fr. Michael Silloway
Pastor