“This Good Work” is the Congregation’s bi-monthly e-newsletter to give witness to Precious Blood Spirituality through the lens of social justice, rooted in Gospel values and Catholic social teaching. In it we share real, legitimate information and ways Sisters are thinking about and living out many issues of peace, justice and ecology. This is curated by Peace, Justice and Ecology Coordinator Jen Morin-Williamson and features articles by Sisters.
How pornography contributes to human trafficking
SOAP Up Event — March 9, 2024
Sidewalk Soldiers
Dear Dinah
Guatemala
How pornography contributes to human trafficking
By Jen Morin-Williamson, Peace, Justice, and Ecology Coordinator
January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. For more than a decade, the Sisters of the Precious Blood have focused on ending human trafficking as one of their primary justice issues. So, this month, I want to be a little uncomfortable and share important information about sex trafficking and the connection to pornography. I feel compelled to expose some information about pornography that would urge people of faith to really consider their actions and to influence their circles of relationships to combat pornography use. It is something that we don’t talk about in polite conversation, but its impact is spiritual, moral and physically damaging to so many, especially vulnerable individuals. Read More
Pornographic content is often made of people being sex trafficked and without their consent. These individuals may be underage and therefore unable to give consent. Many times, these individuals are under the influence of drugs either because of an addiction or as a way for the trafficker to make them compliant. Therefore, they also cannot give consent. (Also, as most pornography is online, there is no way for the victim who was exploited and did not give consent to remove the pornographic images of themselves. It can be viewed forever!)
Demonstrating consent rarely shows up in the actual pornography itself. So, the message is, consent is not important. This is especially disturbing when scenes portray violence — or actually are violent. Sexual acts without consent is rape, right? A disturbing statistic is the research showing that in porn scenes, 88% are violent. And that violence is mostly toward women.
Another trend researchers find is that viewing porn increases the demand for seeking to buy sex which in turn increases the exploitation of people by traffickers. Children also suffer from the rampant pornography industry because of the easy access to porn on the internet. Research also shows that this becomes an influential component of their sex education. They learn that this is what sex is supposed to be like.
As Catholic people, we know this is a false narrative about sexuality. But sometimes we as a group are uncomfortable talking about pornography use. It is a huge industry, and people who watch pornography are from all walks of life and often keep that information private. We need to have conversations and be OK with hearing about pornography use. But it also opens the door to let others know that pornography is not a victimless crime. Even if those who view pornography aren’t convinced that all people in all aspects of the pornography industry are being hurt and exploited (and there is much evidence that they are), we who are followers of a nonviolent Savior would always err on the side of the poor and vulnerable.
Please take some time to check out these links to learn more:
By Jen Morin-Williamson, Peace, Justice, and Ecology Coordinator
Save the date! The annual SOAP Up event in Dayton is scheduled for March 9, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the University of Dayton. This important event focuses on educating and raising awareness about human sex trafficking, particularly in anticipation of major sporting events like basketball tournaments. Volunteers play a crucial role by labeling bars of soap and makeup remover wipes with the National Human Trafficking Hotline number (1-888-373-7888). Teams will then visit local hotels to distribute these free items, along with posters of missing children and information on recognizing red flags of human trafficking. Read More
Additionally, keep an eye out for human trafficking awareness billboards in the Dayton area. Your participation can make a significant impact in combating this critical issue. If you would like to volunteer, contact Jen Morin-Williamson at jmorin-williamson@cppsadmin.org.
At right, bars of soap labeled with the National Human Trafficking Hotline number; photo in slider (above), Sister Jane Francis Hoffman applies the labels to bars of soap; Michelle Bodine photos.
Offering help and hope for trafficked individuals
By Amy Cornelius, Sidewalk Soldiers
Amy Cornelius is founder and director of Sidewalk Soldiers, which provides a variety of services for those who have been sex trafficked and those at risk of trafficking.
Not long after I got away from my trafficker, my heart began to break for those still in the “the life,” those who didn’t get away, went missing or passed away before escaping bondage. I began to cry out to God and question why I made it out and others did not. For many hours, many nights, many years, I was on my knees praying about trafficking in our communities; many tears were shed in travail. Jesus dealt with my heart and responded to my prayers by instructing me to reflect and get busy. I discovered it was possible to live a life of freedom and safety after trafficking, and it is the duty of those God pulled from the pit to guide others out. The Lord connected a small group of women with newfound freedom, and this formed our first street outreach team in 2016. Read More
In 2014, I felt like a lost cause, hopeless. I had become a hard-hearted “escort,” addicted to hardcore drugs, battling suicidal ideation. I was eventually arrested in a human trafficking sting and accused of doing the very things my trafficker was doing to me and other women. I was never indicted or charged with those crimes, but after my arrest, my trafficker viewed me as a risk; he believed law enforcement was watching him because of me. The accounts attached to my online ads were shut down following my arrest, and I was no longer making him money. I no longer served his purpose. During this time, the violence got bad, and one night I called on God, who I wasn’t sure even existed. This was the first time I had prayed in a long time. I asked God to get me out of the life I was living, or take me off of this Earth. A few days later, my trafficker and his crooked lawyer talked, and they agreed to let me go to residential drug treatment if I agreed to never speak to law enforcement or press charges. He believed I was loyal enough to trust, and out of fear I was loyal at first. See, the Lord arranged my exit path long before I got to this point in my journey. This was my chance at reconciliation and a new life. It is no coincidence that I ended up in a Christ-centered program where I reunited with God and learned all that He is and is not. I also learned who I am in Jesus, and He slowly began to transform my mind and spirit. I began to trust and love life, people and God.
It is an honor for our team to connect with and serve these individuals. When we encounter people on outreach, they are typically at very low points in their lives. It’s a powerful experience to sit with them and listen, cry, pray and offer words of hope. Showing them love allows them to experience and feel a humanity they don’t often feel. It’s a reminder they are not forsaken. The individuals we encounter are often downtrodden. It is not uncommon that some people may have slept in abandos (abandoned houses) on the run from their pimps or drug dealers; some are beat up, high, filthy, unkept and cold. Others may act robotically, having been in the same hotel for the last six months. Many times we have been blessed to witness hardened, distraught faces soften as they open up to us. Each encounter is a chance to sow into them. Each encounter might be the time they decide to take the brave step to plan their exit path.
When folks begin to live free, it is amazing to walk alongside them and get to witness to their transformation. As they slowly surrender their fears and begin to purposely seek healing in their lives, their apprehensions and resentments start to shed. It’s a blessing to see them build confidence and peace in their life and begin to serve the One who offered them liberty, salvation and a new way of life.
Mandy Reed is founder of Dear Dinah, which provides a variety of ministries in educating the public about human trafficking and supporting survivors.
A daughter, a wife, a mother, and a child of God are the four titles I am incredibly proud to display to the world around me. My name is Mandy Reed, and I am the founder of Dear Dinah. In the summer of 2020, the Lord opened my eyes and broke my heart to the realities of human trafficking and as a result, “abolitionist” became my newest title and one that has been both an honor, and burden, to bear. First an honor, because walking alongside a soul affected by human trafficking is a journey I never imagined I would be so blessed to venture. Their journey inspires me, humbles me and keeps me so closely connected to my Savior and Redeemer. It is, however, also a burden, because the journey is one marked with trauma, scars, darkness and, for far too many, a dead end. In the heart of the battle against human trafficking lies Dear Dinah, a nonprofit located in Dayton, Ohio, that has become the embodiment of my faith and the relentless pursuit of sharing the transformative love and hope of Jesus. Read More
At the core of our mission is a commitment to emulating the compassion of Christ, illustrated vividly through our street outreach initiatives. Venturing into areas where vulnerable women are tragically ensnared by trafficking, we stand as a tangible manifestation of Jesus’ unyielding dedication to the outcast. Since March 2023, Dear Dinah has now touched the lives of over 100 women through our street outreach efforts, a testament to our unwavering commitment to being the hands and feet of Jesus. This outreach, the heartbeat of our ministry, is a living testament to the power of love and demonstrates that, just like Jesus, we will go to the darkest corners to bring light and hope to those who need it most.
With January being National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, our prayer is that the Lord will use the rise in awareness to stir the hearts of his people to join us in the fight to end human trafficking. We pray that an army will unite within our city to share the very meaning of Dear Dinah to the many souls affected by human trafficking — that they are cherished and loved, and have been set free!
Click on the link below for more information: Dear Dinah
A Trafficking Story from Guatemala
By Sister Theresa Walter, CPPS
Sister Terry Walter is founder and co-director of ADEFAGUA, a mental health program in Guatemala, and is is co-director of Casa Sofia, our residence for university students in Guatemala City.
Maria (not her real name) was 5 years old when her beloved father died. The family was very poor. From that age, Maria had to go by herself, full of fear, to find firewood and beg food from neighbors, since her mother didn’t have work and had several children at home.
Desperation only grew worse with time. When Maria was 6 or 7, her mother started a business servicing some neighborhood men, mostly older. They would come over and rape Maria and her younger sister in their mother’s presence. Maria never knew what was being charged in this business of her mother, but that is how they made ends meet in those years. Read More
Maria remembered feeling betrayed and dirty because of the abuse she experienced. She was in therapy with me for a few years, dealing with her mother’s betrayal, and finally recovered enough to move on with her life.
This situation is not unique in Guatemala, but quite common, even from one generation to the next.
To address the problem, it’s important to understand what’s driving mothers to such deplorable situations. Guatemala’s cycle of exploitation carries through generations: Girls living in poverty and abusive conditions abandon their homes and their studies, become vulnerable to traffickers and are recruited for sexual exploitation. Then, when they become mothers themselves, they in turn subject their daughters to exploitation.
Besides sexual trafficking of children, there is a lot of labor trafficking, especially in agriculture. Most of the beggars in the street are children forced to beg mostly by family members.
Guatemalan authorities have improved their response to the child trafficking problems there in recent years, but still have a long way to go in adequately attending victims of trafficking and prosecuting trafficking collaborators.
We pray that our children, all over the world, find people and governments that defend their rights, heal their traumas, and prevent their abuse.
“Abolitionist” became my newest title