Religion - Modern Slavery and its interaction with the Catholic Church

What is the definition of modern slavery?

When an individual is exploited by others, for personal or commercial gain whether tricked, coerced or forced into losing their freedom

What is the definition of coercion

action or practice of persuading someone to do something by using force or threats

what is the def of de-humanised?

deprive of positive human qualities

what is the def of commodity

a useful / valuable thing (can be bought or sold)

what is the definition of humane and inhumane

humane - having / showing compassion
inhumane - without compassion for cruelty / misery

What are some ways the law recognises mod slavery?

Control of movement / physical environment
Psychological control
Measures take to prevent / stop escape (threats or force)
Subject to cruel treatment and abuse
Power to use services without appropriate compensation

What is the 4 conditions of modern slavery

1.Forced to work - through coercion or mental / phys threats
2. Owned / controlled by an ‘employer’ through mental / phys abuse or threat of abuse
3. De-humanized - treated as a commodity or bought and sold like objects
4. Physically constrained or have restrictions placed on their freedom of movement

What are the 6 forms of modern day slavery

Forced labour
Debt Bondage
Human Trafficking
Descent-based slavery
Child Slavery
Forced and early marriage

What is the modern slavery form of forced labour

any work /. services which ppl are forced to do against their will under the threat of punishment

What is the modern slavery form of debt bondage

(worlds most widespread form)
-when people borrow money and cannot repay it so they are required to work to pay the loan off
-causing them to lose control of the conditions of their employment and their debt

What is the modern slavery form of human trafficking

transporting / recruiting or harboring people for the purpose of exploitation, using violence, threats or coercion

What is the modern slavery form of descent based slavery

people are born into slavery as their ancestors were captured and enslaved - they remain in slavery due to descent

What is the modern slavery form of child slavery

(not confused with child labour)
-Child is exploited for someone elses gain
-often hinders their education and development → harmful for children

What is the modern slavery form of forced marriage

when someone is married against their will and cannot leave the marriage

why does the CC interact with the current issue of modern slavery

as modern slavery goes against the principles of the 2nd great commandment and the csts of solidarity and human dignity

What is the second great commandment ?

“Love your neighbour as yourself” Matthew 22:39

why doesnt modern slavery follow the 2nd great commandment

Goes against it as slavery involves people treating others are commodities for personal gain, rather than protecting others wellbeing and freedom which God intended. (loving each other how yourself would want to be treated)

what is the cst of human dignity

All God-given dignity of each person needs to be respected / upheld individually and by society
- Origin (GENESIS 1:27)“God created mankind in his own image”
-Compendium of the Social doctrine of the Church (2006)
Article 153 states that HD is “universal, inviolable and inalienable”

How is the CST of HD not followed by Modern Slavery (inalienable)

Form of Descent based slavery breaks the inalienable nature as an individual is enslaved by previous familial circumstances causing them to lose their dignity.
- When HD is taught to be respected in everyone regardless of their familial past / circumstances

How is the CST of HD not followed by Modern Slavery (inviolable)

People lose their God Given dignity as they are forced into labour / exploitation and seen as lesser commodities for another’s personal gain
- Everyone should be treated as equal as we are all made in the image of God

What is the CST of Solidarity?

We see another as a neighbor, a fellow human equal in dignity
-A calling for individuals to defend the vulnerable and oppressed for the common good

How is the CST of solidarity not followed by Modern Slavery

Instead of people seeing slaves as fellow humans , Slave owners treat them as lesser objects often for their personal and financial gain. → Isolates them from support and communities which CC teaches is the basics of a functioning society

How does the CC interact with modern slavery locally?

Through Caritas Cambodia, Cath Charity that reduces modern slavery where it is prevelant
- operate over areas like Kandal and Battambang
- Provided 300 villages with development associations to help victims of human trafficking
- Made Youth Development programs and Friendly Vocational Staff Development so that 22000 Villagers are no longer exploited and have support to live.

How does the CC interact with modern slavery nationally?

Through the Australian Catholic Bishop Conference.
- Whom supported introduction of the 2018 Modern Slavery Bill.
- Bill required that Aus orgs earning over 100mill need to report their efforts to remove exploitation.
- ACBC worked with Archdiocese of Sydney Anti -Slavery taskforce to produce slavery free supply chains
-systematically combats modern slavery

what is some evidence from the CC interaction with modern slavery (aus bishops conference)

Archbishop Mark Coleridge - President of ACBC
“This human dignity is possessed by each and every human being, irrespective of their age, sex, race, abilities or any other quality. Slavery destroys that dignity.”
-shows ACBC reacting to HD being not followed by Modern slavery

How does the CC interact with modern slavery internationally?

Pope Francis addresses modern day slavery through his 2020 encyclical ‘Fratelli Tutti’
-Condemns MDS and trafficking as many are put in dehumanising conditions
-Calls for global effort to end MDS and critiques ppl who exploit others for profit while not recognizing their inherent HD

What is some evidence from ‘fratelli tutti’ about interaction with MDS?

“Millions of people today.. are deprived of freedom and forced to live in conditions akin to slavery” (#24)
“In todays world many forms of injustice persist… a profit based economic model that does not hesitate to exploit, discard and even kill human beings” (#22)
“We need to ensure that our institutions are truly effective in the struggle against all these scourges” (#188)