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To: Clergy and religious, parish communicators, bulletin editors, social ministry leaders
From: Kat Doyle, Director of Justice and Peace Ministries; Office of Life, Dignity and Justice
We invite you to share this information in your bulletins and other parish communications.
The World Day Against Trafficking in Human Persons is observed globally on Friday, July 30. The Coalition of Catholic Organizations Against Human Trafficking (CCOAHT), of which the Archdiocese of Atlanta is a member organization, has organized a campaign to raise awareness of forced labor in the fishing industry. To express your solidarity with seafarers and all those who are victims of human trafficking, we are asking parishes and the faithful of the archdiocese to participate in two actions:
Prayer
Consider organizing a prayer service in your parish and/or including petitions at Mass for victims of human trafficking, and particularly for those whose labor is exploited at sea. The U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking have prayer service texts and bulletin inserts available. Click here for prayer resources.
Advocacy
Using our voices to advocate for the marginalized and oppressed is an obligation of our faith. CCOAHT asks you to sign the petition urging Walmart to acknowledge their reliance on seafarers for the healthy functioning of their business model and to show concern for seafarers’ wellbeing by signing the Neptune Declaration. Click here to sign the petition.
For questions or more information on the work the Archdiocese of Atlanta is doing to fight human trafficking, please contact me at kdoyle@archatl.com or 404-920-7897.