By Lucas Holt, Human Dignity and Life Advocate for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Green Bay
Most of us have probably heard of human trafficking, but there are many myths and misconceptions about what it truly is and how it happens. One of those myths is that it happens only in large cities like Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, or some other large metropolitan area.
However, human trafficking can happen anywhere, and it certainly happens in Wisconsin, especially along the I-41 corridor, where it is a big problem. That’s why we have partnered with different organizations in our Diocese to raise awareness about this grave injustice to the dignity of human life.
With the NFL Draft coming to Green Bay April 24-26, we have partnered with Awaken Wisconsin to help educate people on human trafficking. On March 7, volunteers canvassed Green Bay, distributing posters to local businesses that included information on how to recognize signs of human trafficking and how to report it. We were able to reach 132 businesses and deliver 170 posters.
Our action will be accompanied by prayer. From April 24-26 (during the three days of the NFL Draft in Green Bay), we will be having 24/7 Adoration at Resurrection Parish in Allouez with the specific intention of combating human trafficking. You can find out more information and sign up here.
We will also be distributing prayer cards that have a prayer invoking the intercession of St. Joesphine Bakhita, patron saint of human trafficking, and on the other side of the card there is information on how to report human trafficking.
If you would like a St. Josephine Bakhita prayer card, feel free to reach out to our office and request one by calling 920-272-8234 or emailing CharitiesGB@gbdioc.org.
For more resources to learn about human trafficking, I encourage you to visit the US Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign and to visit the Awaken Wisconsin home page on how you can fight human trafficking in Northeast Wisconsin.
“The seventh commandment forbids acts or enterprises that for any reason — selfish or ideological, commercial, or totalitarian — lead to the enslavement of human beings, to their being bought, sold and exchanged like merchandise, in disregard for their personal dignity. It is a sin against the dignity of persons and their fundamental rights to reduce them by violence to their productive value or to a source of profit”. - Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2414