Caldwell Sisters Act to Abolish Human Trafficking

Peggy Ann Clinton, OP

Caldwell, NJ:  June 19, 2009 – For the past five years the Dominican Sisters of Caldwell have been working steadily and actively in support of human rights by firmly opposing trafficking. These efforts on behalf of human dignity were affirmed on Friday, June 19, at the Sisters of St. Dominic Motherhouse in Caldwell during a prayer service honoring the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

 Sister Peggy Ann Clinton, OP (Caldwell) offered a reflection focusing on the challenge of the Gospel message of love for all persons, the mandate of the Dominican Call to Justice, and our individual and communal responsibility to promote human dignity and justice in all sectors of our global community.

All Sisters and Dominican Associates present repeated the corporate stance adopted by the community against human trafficking of all kinds - especially of women and children - for purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor. They further declared their determination to continue educating themselves and others regarding this modern day heinous reality and to advocate in every way possible for policies, programs and legislation which will lead to the prevention and eradication of trafficking.

This pledge is in support of and solidarity with the United Nations, many individual nations and religious congregations throughout the world who have acted through the years against the trafficking of human beings. In spite of this, the illegal action continues and flourishes. “If you think it’s not happening where you live, you’re probably wrong,” said Sister de Montfort Kinchellagh, OP, Justice Promoter for the Caldwell congregation.

We all stand individually opposed to tyranny and oppression. There is a need to work together in raising awareness, in speaking corporately and publicly and in supporting programs which give assistance to the vulnerable. Sister Mary John Kearney, OP, one of the authors of the Corporate Stance against Trafficking document, noted, “The hope of the Caldwell Dominicans is that all our united efforts can bring about the abolishment of this great evil of the twenty-first century.”
Log on to www.caldwellop.org to view our statement.

Log on to www.caldwellop.org to view their statement.