“The Spirit of the Lord is upon us because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s poor” (Lk 4:14-19)
Standing in the synagogue in his hometown of Nazareth, Jesus with unusual authority read these lines from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He then announced to the startled congregation: ‘Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” This fulfillment continues today, but perhaps in a way not foreseen by Isaiah, but certainly one inspired by the Christ’s message of liberation. Countless women and children are being liberated from the scourge known as human trafficking.
Human trafficking, a form of slavery, is said to be the fastest growing criminal industry in the world. Through fraud, coercion and preying on their vulnerability its perpetrators exploit their victims – including young children – for purposes of sexual abuse and forced labor – all for financial gain.
For women who escape and survive the bondage of trafficking and try to reclaim their lives the provision of safe housing is critical for their physical and emotional healing. One organization addressing this need for housing is Lifeway Network (Lifewaynetwork.org) located in Tarrytown, New York.
Founded in 2007 by the Sisters of Charity- Haliax, LifeWay Network was created in response to a call from the Internation Union of Superiors General for solidarity against human trafficking. (Established in 1965 after the Vatican Council, the USGI represents the Superiors of women religious orders throughout the world). As stated in its website, its mission statements is: “Lifeway Network envisions a world in which human trafficking is abolished, and every survivor is strong, connected and free. LifeWay Network joins the global movement against human trafficking by providing safe housing for women who have been trafficked and offering education about trafficking to the general public”.
Since shortly after its founding LifeWay has offered short-term emergency housing and long-term transitional safe housing to scores of women from dozens of countries. The survivors live in community with others and are provided with the basic skills to rebuild their broken lives. Services are provided by social workers, mental health counselors, educators and legal advisors. Having regained their self-esteem, the women can re-enter society well prepared for a life of independence.
The website also reports that” Lifeway Network is a founding member of the Coalition of Religious Congregations to Stop Trafficking of Persons (CRC-STOP) which includes 37 religious congregations of women and men, founded in the tri-state area, working together to confront human trafficking through legislative advocacy (prosecution), direct service (protection), and education (Prevention)”.
Bondage, like sin, comes in many forms – physical, spiritual, emotional, societal. The mission of LifeWay Network rescues many women from one such form – another example that the advance of liberation in the advance of the Kingdom
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