“A lot of people think of a man looking at pictures,” Petersen said, “but research shows that 85 percent of convicted child porn possessors admit to hands-on contact with children.” Petersen also stressed that pornography victims include boys and girls: “In that underground world of child porn, pictures of little boys are especially highly prized.” The workshop closed with a prayer service for human trafficking victims, which included a presentation by seven Lourdes High School drama students who brought human trafficking stories to life.
CALL TO ACTION So what can we do to help? Sisters Briana McCarthy and Anne Walch encouraged attendees to: 1. Talk to others about human trafficking; 2. Read about it by Googling “human trafficking” for web-based articles or read the books “Half the Sky” and “The Blue Notebook;” 3. Watch DVDs like “Lives for Sale” and “Not My Life;” 4. Invite organizations like Mission 21, Breaking Free or the Rochester Franciscan Sisters to speak to your volunteer, civic and church groups. Meanwhile, the Sisters continue their relentless efforts against modern-day slavery this spring with “Breaking the Chains, Part 2,” which will feature two events at Assisi Heights: a fundraising concert including Bella Voce Young Women’s Choir, March 15, 7 p.m. at Lourdes Chapel, Assisi Heights, and another awareness-raising presentation on May 18, 9 a.m.-noon.
“Emancipation didn’t end slavery,” expressed Ellen Wick, Lourdes High School student, pictured here participating in the prayer service at the January workshop at Assisi Heights.
Karen Snyder is a Rochester freelance writer.
RESOURCES AND CONTACTS: • Sisters of Saint Francis: rochesterfranciscan.org • End Child Prostitution and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes: ecpatusa.org • The Code: thecode.org • MN Girls Are Not For Sale: MNGirlsNotForSale.org • Shared Hope International: sharedhope.org • Mission 21: mission21mn.org • Breaking Free: breakingfree.net
Sister Briana McCarthy leads the event participants in song. 2 March/April 2013 RWmagazine.com