In an address given at a service to commemorate the work of William
Wilberforce and to inaugurate the office of the Independent Anti-slavery
Commissioner at Westminster Abbey on 12 October, Cardinal Vincent
Nichols reaffirmed the Church's commitment to combating modern slavery.
Comparing
the current situation with the one facing Wilberforce, the politician
who campaigned to abolish the slave trade in the 18th century, the
Cardinal explained that then, as now, it "disfigures our society and
calls for an unremitting effort to bring it to an end."
"Human
trafficking and modern day slavery are perpetrated by large, criminal
international networks," he said and emphasised that the Catholic Church
is "slowly mobilising its considerable, international networks,
contacts and resources' in an effort to eradicate this trade."
The
Cardinal paid tribute to the work of religious sisters, working in the
Talitha Kum network, who "put their lives at risk every day to get close
to the victims of human trafficking in the most dangerous of
circumstances."
He expressed his confidence that the Government
would work with the Government of France, to tackle child exploitation
in the Calais camps and 'very urgently improve the effectiveness of the
asylum-seeking procedures, especially for children there, who may well
have a right to be here and are certainly at terrible risk in the coming
weeks."
Speaking of the Santa Marta Group, the international
effort of the Catholic Church working with law enforcement agencies and
the Church of England World Wide, he said that the progress it has made
has been "effective and measurable" and said that when it presents its
progress reports to Pope Francis in two weeks times, he felt confident
that the Holy Father would be "greatly encouraged."
Also speaking
at the service and reaffirming their commitment to combating human
trafficking and modern slavery were Archbishop of Canterbury Justin
Welby, Prime Minister Theresa May and Independent Anti-slavery
Commissioner Kevin Hyland.
The full text of Cardinal Vincent's Westminster Abbey address follows:
Human trafficking and modern slavery are 'grievous wounds in the flesh of humanity'.
These
words were spoken by Pope Francis in April 2014 at a meeting in Rome
bringing together representatives of law enforcement agencies from
around
the world and leaders of the Catholic Church from those same countries.
Pope Francis went on to add: 'They are a grievous wound in the flesh of Christ himself.'
This
second, Christian, sentiment would have been profoundly shared by
William Wilberforce whose work we honour this evening. He too drew all
his motivation for the fight against slavery from his Christian faith.
Yet in his day, as I read, religious enthusiasm was generally regarded
as a social transgression and was stigmatised in polite society! But
that did not put off this great reformer.
The words of Pope
Francis marked the launch of the Santa Marta Group, an international
effort of police forces and the Catholic Church world-wide, working
together with the Church of England and other religious and civic
groups, to tackle this most ancient yet modern of criminal activities.
In this the Office of the Anti-Slavery Commissioner plays a crucial
part. In the eighteenth century human slavery was a hugely profitable
'trade'. It is so today. Then, as now, it disfigures our society and
calls for an unremitting effort to bring it to an end.
Human
trafficking and modern day slavery are perpetrated by large, criminal
international networks. Slowly the Catholic Church, among others, is
mobilising its considerable, international networks, contacts and
resources in this struggle. Direct and immediate cooperation with the
forces of law and order is key, for it combines the rigour and power of
the law with the compassion and selflessness of Christian dedication.
For example, hundreds of religious sisters, working through their
network, Talitha Kum, put their lives at risk every day to get close to
the victims of human trafficking in the most dangerous of circumstances.
Talitha kum means 'get up little girl'. It is the command of Jesus
which brought new life to the dead. And those caught in slavery are
often the living dead.
Today there are many situations where
little children are at risk of being ruthlessly exploited by
traffickers. This is so in every refugee camp, but most closely in
Calais. I hope our Government, known rightly for its leadership in
opposing human trafficking, and the Government of France, will very
urgently improve the effectiveness of the asylum-seeking procedures,
especially for children there, who may well have a right to be here and
are certainly at terrible risk in the coming weeks.
In two
weeks' time, the Santa Marta Group will present its progress reports to
Pope Francis. He, I am sure, will be encouraged. Progress is measurable
and effective. He will bless our efforts and assure us of his prayers.
We are only just beginning. There is so much to be done. May the prayers
of this congregation also strengthen this work, to which this evening
we commit ourselves anew.