LCWR Statement on Sexual Abuse by Clergy

The Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, as members of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, support and echo their recent statement on Sexual Abuse by the Clergy.

"The recent news detailing the extensive and sometimes brutal sexual abuse committed by Catholic priests in the United States has left us at the Leadership Conference of Women Religious sickened and ashamed of the church we love, trusted, and have committed our lives to serve. We weep and grieve with all who over the decades have been victimized by sexual predators within the faith community and feel their pain as our own. We recognize that the damage done to many is irreparable.

Sexual abuse is a horrific crime, and the horror is so much worse when committed by persons in whom society has placed its trust and confidence. Equally difficult to comprehend is the culture within the church hierarchy that tolerated the abuse, left children and vulnerable adults subject to further abuse, and created practices that covered up the crimes and protected the abusers.

We call upon the church leadership to implement plans immediately to support more fully the healing of all victims of clergy abuse, hold abusers accountable, and work to uncover and address the root causes of the sexual abuse crisis. We believe that the work to implement the 2002 Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and its subsequent revisions has been an important and effective step in addressing allegations of sexual abuse of minors by clergy. We have watched the Conference of Major Superiors of Men diligently work to assure the protection and safety of children and youth and applaud its efforts. However, it is clear that more serious action needs to be taken to assure that the culture of secrecy and cover-up ends.

We also call upon church leaders to attend to the severe erosion of the church’s moral standing in the world. Its members are angry, confused, and struggling to find ways to make sense of the church’s failings. The church leadership needs to speak with honesty and humility about how this intolerable culture developed and how that culture will now be deconstructed, and to create places where church members can express our anger and heartbreak. We call on the leaders to include competent members of the laity more fully in the work to eradicate abuse and change the culture, policies, and practices. We are committed to collaborate in the essential work of healing and transformation that our church so desperately needs.

Finally, we recognize that the vast majority of priests have not committed abuse and are suffering greatly because of the actions of some of their brothers. We offer them our prayer and support as they continue their ministries in these very challenging times and as they too struggle to understand the complexity of factors that led to this deplorable situation."

View the statement on LCWR's website HERE

Women's Day Peace Campaign

Please join us in Pax Christi International and the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative’s International Women’s Day peace campaign.  As you know may know, LCWR is a member of the steering committee of the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative.  They are hoping that thousands of women religious across the country and around the world will join us in sending a message to Pope Francis thanking him for his commitment to nonviolence and just peace.

Pax Christi International and the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative are deeply grateful to Pope Francis for his consistently strong condemnation of nuclear weapons and the vicious arms trade. His clarity on, and commitment to, peace and nonviolence are wonderful gift to our movement.

This year for International Women’s Day (8 March), we invite women to send a thank-you message to Pope Francis, in appreciation for his leadership on these issues. We want him to know that we are listening to and affirming his words and his works.

Please share this online “postcard” with women in your communities and networks and ask them to sign this thank-you message. We will collect the responses over the next month, and will deliver the names and personal notes to the Vatican on 8 March.

The postcard is available in four languages: English, français, español, and italiano. 

Sister Story: Weaving our Identity Accompanied by our Ancestors

I share with you here my experience of the Meeting of Religious Life from Indigenous Communities in the town of Machetla II (Diocese of Huejutla, Hidalgo, Mexico).  I arrived on October 20^th in the morning and all of the sisters were already there.  The joy of everyone was very contagious.  My congregational sister, Sr. Ana Luisa Prieto CCVI, introduced me to various sisters from the Conference of Major Superiors of Religious for Mexico (CIRM) as well as the sisters from the organizing committee, and the hosting Bishop – a very nice priest.  I quickly felt at home. 

We were also welcomed by people from the Machetla community while some sisters prepared the Altar of the Mayan culture with the 4 cardinal points. The people from the community had many yellow flowers, and invited us to stand in a line. This was their way of welcoming us, and it was a beautiful welcome. The flowers were woven into small wreaths, so that each sister received a wreath of flowers placed on their head.  Then we were given a yellow string of flowers around our necks, and at the end they gave each person a staff to hold of varying sizes. The majority of the religious participants wore white embroidered blouses.  They looked beautiful, like queens or rather: like Saint Teresa with her crown.

Then they invited us to go to the altar of the Mayan culture and they explained to us each point beginning with the East: from where the sun rises there the life of each person is born and the fertility has its origin in the sun. In the West: there is the water that encircles life and where the sun is hidden: it keeps energy. The equilibrium. Life is transformed. In the North: there is power and strength. The South: is the place of thorns, the place of self-sacrifice and place of flowers.

One of the nuns invited us to settle in the direction of the east.  After reading the meaning, she invited us to dance around the altar with the ritual music of Huejutla. Soon the rhythm of the music stayed and the image of all the religious sisters reminded me how meaningful our life is. Afterwards, each Congregation presented itself in a very creative way; it was very experiential. After the welcome, we shared a meal together. Everything was very tasty. I was curious and went to taste the water; it was as sweet as the waters of the springs of my land (Puno, Peru), so I knew there was the secret!

After eating, we were presented with the objective of the gathering and the methodology: THE PATH OF INDIAN THEOLOGY: TOUCHING THE HEART OF GOD, a method of reflection from the perspective of native theology. A guide for theological reflection from the ancient narratives of our ancestors. The person in charge of the topic was Juan Manuel Garcia (a layperson with a lot of experience) who emphasized that this methodology consisted of living and feeling reality with the pains and joys in the life of our peoples. That is, to share the joys and pains of the LIFE of the people and in that reality contemplate the will of God and of the ancestors, explain the historical response of God to the problems, and build a new ideal reality of life from the project of God.

 

We shared in the group about our own ancestors.  We had many experiences in common: the values ​​of life, a great love of the earth, working together, the deep sense of community, trust in God, and our way of contemplating the nature and value of our native languages. While we have a lot of particularity and differences between cultures, something that unites us is our struggle to care for God's creation: ecology.

We ended the day with a very beautiful Eucharist presided over by 5 priests and accompanied by a chorus of children and teenagers who played the violin. All the religious women were with our flower chains (on the head, around the neck and in the hand). After the Mass, we had dinner and left in a truck that took between 10 and 12 sisters according to how it was organized.  The community welcome each of us into a family. I loved this gesture!

I stayed with a family that spoke a language I had never heard before. The woman who welcomed me has 2 sons and 6 daughters but they are all out of the house. Most of her daughters are in Mexico City; one of her children is in Monterrey and the other in Canada. She lives with her daughter-in-law, a granddaughter and a grandson. Her house is very well cared for thanks to the efforts of her and her children.  They were a very nice family, and I happily stayed with them for two nights.

The second day we started with a delicious egg-based breakfast with black beans, very tasty. Then a reflective, contemplative prayer with dance. Then we had an open dialogue with some questions such as: What do we hear? What resonates in our heart? Then it was time for illumination from the wisdom of the grandmothers and grandfathers.

Sr. Herlinda, a Guatemalan religious, shared the clock of the Mayan culture, an instrument used since ancient times to measure the passage of hours, minutes and seconds. They had 13 calendars and 18 months and from that they knew the quality of people and how everything was connected and integrated. That is why the people of this culture ask you: how is your heart?  There is also a deposit of wisdom of the ancestors who give us advice through stories. Some phrases that were constantly repeated included the importance of sharing food with the needy, with the deceased and the attitudes that help create inner peace; for all this strengthens the heart.  Theology is the experience of God in the Indigenous communities and peoples, because they recognize God in everything.

The third day we started very similar as in the previous days: with a rich breakfast and a deep prayer. Sister Ana Luisa Prieto made a summary highlighting the blessings of each day shared together; it was very significant. We focused this day on creating the means to act.

What wonderful teachings I received and carry with me! Now my question is how do I offer this back in our religious family and in the town where I am? For all this helped me strengthen my heart, because when we touch the depths of our being, we can speak from the heart.  Being there allows us to listen to our dreams. Inspiration springs forth from the source of all being. I will find the way; I know and feel it.

I end this time with much gratitude for all those women of faith I gathered with, for our Congregation, and for Sr. Ana Luisa Prieto. Thank you.

Written by Sr. Sofia Mamani, CCVI 

Report from the Continental Seminar Against Human Trafficking in Bogota, CO

Over 100 people – women and men, religious and lay – from 20 countries throughout the Americas and Caribbean gathered in Bogota, Colombia August 18-20, 2017 for an international seminar on human trafficking sponsored by CLAR (the Latin American Conference for Religious).  The various networks of women religious working against human trafficking in these countries were present including USCatholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking, Red RAMA, Red KAWSAY, RAHAMIM, UnGrito Pela Vida, and TAMAR. 

    

Lead Organizers of the Continental Seminar Against
Human Trafficking

The theme for the seminar, “salgamos a prisa al encuentro de la vida” (let us go out with haste to encounter life), came from the scripture passage of the Visitation: Mary going out and encountering Elizabeth.  On the opening morning we reflected on where there is an urgent need for us to quickly go out and respond, and who do we encounter?  Responses included feeling a call to the margins, to go to the borders and respond to migrants and the most vulnerable, women and children, to go beyond our own congregations and reach out to more laity and other faith groups, and also to go back to our own congregations to educate, encourage, and inspire them to join us in this important work to end human trafficking.  

Representatives from the United States including
Jennifer Reyes Lay representing USCSAHT

The three day seminar was broken down into the see-judge-act paradigm, focusing on one each day.  The first day included an educational presentation about human trafficking in general by Dr. Norma Castillo, and included sharing the current reality of trafficking within the various countries represented.  Then there was a presentation focused specifically on migration and its connection to human trafficking.  Participants learned about how forced migration due to a number of different factors including poverty, political repression or instability, and violence create vulnerable populations for human trafficking.  The work to end human trafficking is intricately connected to the work for immigration reform and just international economic policies.  In groups we reflected on Pope Francis’ call to gather, protect, promote, and integrate migrants and refugees in our communities.  How are we already doing this and how/where can we do better? 

Towards the end of the first day we heard a powerful testimony from a survivor of human trafficking who was a former professional soccer player.  This was eye opening as the professional sports world isn’t often thought about as being complicit in networks of human trafficking, but the lure of being able to go to a different country and play professional soccer actually traps a number of people every year into situations of trafficking, particularly as exploited labor.  He shared about the difficulty of victims to receive justice because of the heavy burden on them to prove they were exploited.  This leads into a vicious cycle of victim blaming and re-traumatization, and in many cases even violent threats from those who the charges are brought against.  Unfortunately his traffickers were never prosecuted, but this young man is now an active advocate, raising awareness so other young boys and men don’t fall victim to this same trap like he did.   

Group leaders report back on discussions from small groups

Day two included a focus on children as well as some deeper theological reflection on the themes covered and general work to end human trafficking.  The presentation on children and human trafficking was given by Dr. Nelson Rivera from the organization Renacer (Reborn), which is a partner with ECPAT, working to end child sex and labor trafficking.  He shared how trying to document child victims of trafficking is very difficult and there are different understandings as to what constitutes trafficking or exploitation of children, especially in the area of labor.  Small groups reflected on what child sex and labor trafficking looks like in each country and what are the challenges in addressing this crime against children.  Many countries throughout Latin America shared that both the culture and the complicity of police and government officials make it very difficult to denounce human trafficking, prevent it, and penalize those responsible. 

Fr. Guillermo Campuzano led the theological reflection, and for many participants it was one of the highlights of the seminar.  He beautifully wove together the themes of human trafficking, migration, and child exploitation with theological reflections inspired by biblical passages and the words of Pope Francis.  Bringing in the themes of this urgent call out into the world, he said that it is through the cries of the victims of human trafficking that God has been and continues to call us.  The direction we need to go is toward those cries.  While there are many different charisms throughout the various religious orders, all charisms connect to this work to end human trafficking because human trafficking is connected to all parts of society (schools, hospitals, social services, churches, families, etc.).  He offered a challenge to those gathered to recover the prophetic nature of their charism. 

Fr. Guillermo celebrating the Eucharist

The day ended with an incredible liturgy led by Fr. Guillermo that was truly the work of the people.  Everyone sat in a circle around a map on the floor of the Americas and Caribbean.  At different parts throughout the liturgy, everyone was invited to participate in constructing the map before us, from placing the dirt on the ground, to lighting and placing a candle in each country present, to sharing the fruits of the earth as fruits of our labor in this work together.  It was a powerful visual representation of an integral ecology that connects not only us humans gathered, but the whole of creation throughout the Americas recognizing that God’s loving and creative presence flows through it all and sustains us in the work we are called to do in the world.  Fr. Guillermo presided over the Eucharist on the ground, on top of the soil, offering a powerful visual of a God who became incarnate, taking on the earthly material substance of creation and unifying God to that creation forever more.  We are all the Body of Christ, broken and blessed and shared with the world. 

The third and final day of the Seminar was about moving towards action together.  Participants learned about Talitha Kum, the international network of the Vatican against human trafficking, and their vision to encourage networks of religious life against trafficking in every country.  There was space to learn about the various networks currently present working to end human trafficking, and then we split off into regions to do more specific work to collaborate across borders with those closest to us. 

USCSAHT met with Mexico (RAHAMIM) and Central America (Red RAMA and other countries) to reflect on how we can build stronger networks between the countries, share resources, and improve communications in our joint work to end human trafficking and support survivors.  One of the challenges discussed was effective communication and sharing of resources across borders.  Many people from Central America are traveling through Mexico with a destination of the U.S. or Canada, but the networks in Central America don’t know the resources to share in the other countries for those who might need them.  For example, once a Salvadoran reaches Mexico, who can they call if they need help or where are the safe houses along the way?  Who can help them contact their family to let them know they are ok?  And the same for once they cross into the U.S.  Where are the places and who are the people they could reach out to for help?  

Because of this conversation one of the goals set forth by the region was to develop a directory of contacts and resources across the countries to be able to use and share as needed to support any potential or current victims of trafficking.  One way that USCSAHT can help with this is to translate more of their information and resources into Spanish, since many victims of both sex and labor trafficking are Spanish speaking from throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.  There was also a need expressed to form networks against trafficking in the countries that do not currently have one, and strengthen the networks that are new and still in formation.  All those present affirmed the value of having a cross-continental meeting like this one, and would like to see future opportunities for collaboration and relationship building continue. 

I think it is safe to safe that everyone left the Seminar with a renewed energy and sense of hope in this work, because while it is heartbreaking to see the realities and impacts of human trafficking in our world it is also inspiring to join with one another across countries, cultures, and languages and know that we are not doing this work alone.  We are stronger together.  Rooted in our faith in a God who is incarnate Love and Compassion, we can respond to our call to go out into the world and experience transformative encounter in this work to end human trafficking. 

Written by Jennifer Reyes Lay, Assistant Director of the JPIC Office for the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word and liaison to USCSAHT who attended the Continental Seminar.  

(Read the final report from the Seminar in English HERE) 

RAHAHIM: Religious Life Against Trafficking in Mexico

After the Training Workshop Against Human Trafficking in 2016, organized by Talitha Kum, a new religious network in Mexico was formed to combat human trafficking: Rahahim (womb of mercy). Since October 2016, seven religious congregations have met together: sharing new information, going deeper into the Palermo Protocol, organizing for the prevention of trafficking in different areas, understanding more closely the crime of trafficking in our country, and increasing our training.

Some of us participated in the Meeting Against Human Trafficking organized by the Chamber of Deputies where they presented interesting work going on to rescue victims of human trafficking. However, it is also clear that current laws do not effectively protect victims, and there is lack of an adequate anti-trafficking budget in Mexico.

It is painful to see impunity in the face of sexual abuse of minors, trafficking in the indigenous community of Las Chamulas, and to know that Mexico has become a springboard that takes many young women abroad from Cancún, Colima and CDMX. We are deeply concerned about violence towards women and how women have been objectified in our society.

In light of this reality we ask ourselves, how do we fit in? And it is that we need to continue working against this crime that day by day captures more victims. We have shared some congregational initiatives to prevent trafficking and care for survivors, all of which require us to promote and share how we are involved in the fight against human trafficking through research, training, prevention and/or care.

As Sr. Marcela says, we must become aware of what it means to work in a network from the standpoints of communication, articulation, collaboration and coordination between the Religious Congregations and with people from other organizations. Perhaps a step towards this will be our participation, as Red Rahahim, in the Latin American Seminar of Religious Life in response to Human Trafficking that will be held in Colombia from August 18 to 20, 2017.

In general this is what we are doing since Rahahim started.  The progress is slow because not all are on the same level; some of us need to make our work more concrete.  But there we go, for the time being - raising awareness and publicizing this crime so that it is seen because it is something happening more frequently than most people think.

Written by: Sor Ofelia Lozano, CCVI and Sor Ma. Covadonga Suarez, CCVI

Religious Life in Peru Against Human Trafficking

In order to strengthen and support the work of the national network of Consecrated Life and Priests committed to reducing this scourge of human trafficking and respond adequately, the Fifth National Meeting of the Red Kawsay in Peru (of which we are part) was held.

During these three days of meetings, we dealt with issues of prevention, advocacy, applicability of the Anti-Trafficking Law, the migration situation in Peru, trafficking, ethics and corruption as well as a powerful theological reflection on human trafficking in the light of the icon of the Visitation.

It was a very significant time because, as explained in the Final Declaration of the Meeting, the participants were very moved by the recent events of labor exploitation seen in the fire of the Nicollini Building (Cercado de Lima). As a result, the Red Kawsay united in prayer and expressed its sorrow and condemnation of this event and all forms of trafficking in persons: “We are indignant at the normalization of these deeply rooted practices in society and we demand due process for the victims and for their families who cry out for justice," the Declaration says.

Likewise, some practices of the Network were shared in coordination with state operators that are being developed in Puno and Madre de Dios, as well as the experience of the Network ‘A Cry for Life’ in Brazil and the initiative to form Red Kawsay Bolivia.

Through reflection on the various topics discussed, as Red Kawsay we felt a strong call for a greater professionalism in the members of the Network, with a focus on awareness and advocacy, particularly for accountability and inspection from the Peruvian State as a strategy for prevention.

We are grateful for the space of meeting, prayer, learning and training.

You can read below the complete Final Declaration:

"Trafficking in persons is ... a wound in the body of Christ, and for this reason the Church together with the people of good will cry out! Let us unite efforts to help the victims."- Pope Francis

On July 6, 7 and 8, 2017, 45 participants: religious, priests and a laity from Tacna, Puno, La Libertad, Madre de Dios, Huánuco, Lambayeque, Piura, Ancash, San Martin, Ayacucho and Lima met in the retreat house of the Colegio de Jesús in Pueblo Libre to celebrate the 5th National Meeting of the Red Kawsay - "Consecrated Life for a society without human trafficking."

Still shocked by the recent events of labor exploitation seen in the tragedy of the Nicollini Building, as Red Kawsay we unite in prayer and express our sorrow and condemnation of this event and all forms of human trafficking. We are indignant at the naturalization of these deeply entrenched practices in society and we demand due process for the victims and their families who claim justice.

Starting from the Gospel of the Visitation (Luke 1:39-45) that served as an inspiring icon for the Consecrated Life of Latin America, we feel called upon and challenged to take initiatives that are more concrete and consistent with our commitment to fight against this scourge: in the recognition, defense and respect of human dignity (and one’s inalienable right to work in dignified conditions); in solidarity with the victims of human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants; and with the hope and strength that comes from God which we want to share.

In these past 7 years as the Red Kawsay we feel the grace of all we have learned, of acquiring a position within the country and civil society that recognize us as allies. At the same time, this recognition invites us to a greater professionalism, focusing our resources better on awareness and advocacy, particularly in the inspection of state actions as a prevention strategy.

As people of Faith:

• We offer a perspective and take action from the vision of the Kingdom, to have relationships and humanizing encounters that reaffirm our call and commitment to promote the dignity of life.
• We promote prevention actions in the different mission areas (parish, schools, groups, families, institutions and others).
• We promote justice that dignifies the person affected by trafficking, and at the same time re-humanizes the trafficker and those surrounding him/her.
• We focus on the creation of adequate and specialized safe spaces for accompanying the victims.
• We contribute initiatives to local and regional governments without giving up the prophetic voice that denounces the impunity, inaction and inertia of some entities of the State linked to corruption.
• We opt for the truth and the strengthening of a culture of peace with an emphasis on respect for life and fundamental rights.
• We confront the naturalization of trafficking, and violence in its various forms.
• We sensitize and raise awareness about the reality of human trafficking in the diocese through bishops, priests, religious and church institutions.
• We will discern a careful accompaniment to the various actors, causes and effects of trafficking from coordinated and networked work.

Aware of living in new times and called to make real the presence of God in the world, we want our solidarity with the people affected by trafficking to be hopeful, contagious, and active to help bring about the Kingdom of God through the way of Jesus.

Lima, July 2017

Justice Promoters for Women Religious Gather in Chicago

March 5-7, 2017 JPIC staff and promoters from women's religious congregations across the country gathered in Chicago, IL for their second national convocation titled, "Which roots will we water?  Systemic Change and JPIC Ministry."  Representing the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word was Jennifer Reyes Lay, Assistant Director for the CCVI JPIC Office.  There were over a hundred participants made up of women religious, associates, and lay women and men.  Overall it was an inspiring and challenging three days of strengthening networks and relationships, learning about systemic oppression and systemic change, and praying and reflecting on where we've been and where we are going.

The keynote speaker for the convocation was Cynthia Moe-Lobeda, a professor of Theological and Social Ethics at Church Divinity School of the Pacific.  Her latest book is "Resisting Structural Evil: Love as Ecological-Economic Vocation."  Her keynote focused on themes in her most recent book including what grounds us in our work for systemic change, tools of systemic change, roots of moral power, and tools of resistance.  She reminded us that "to love means disrupting systemic injustice."  This is part of our vocational call, to incarnate God's love in the world, means to work for justice, peace, and the care of creation.  

Cynthia Moe-Lobeda's Keynote Address

Here are some of the wonderful insights shared by Cynthia:

• We root ourselves in the promise of God's infinite and endless love.  We are called to receive that love and also embody that love in the world.  
• We need to have "critical mystical vision" which means 1) seeing clearly what is going on and unmasking systemic evil that tries to present itself as good, 2) seeing what alternatives are already in the process of becoming or creating new realities, and 3) acknowledging the sacred powers at work in the universe for the well being of all creation.  
• Climate change is a manifestation of white privilege and class privilege.  Those with the most privilege are polluting those with the least privilege.  The majority of climate refugees are African and Asian.  
• By doing little to nothing we actively contribute to oppression and systemic evil.  
• We come from a rich heritage of "fiercely loving subversive faithful resisters."  Do we know and share these stories?  What is the story we see ourselves a part of?  
• From the wisdom of Ireneaus of Leon, we are "mud creatures," moist by the dew of the Holy Spirit so we can continually be molded by the Word (Jesus) and Wisdom (Spirit) of God into who we are meant to become.  How will we maintain our moistness?  
• Pando is a vast network of Aspen trees with interconnected root systems.  Use this image to reflect on how we can build stronger root systems with one another to keep one another nourished and moist with the Holy Spirit.  
• We need both resistance (stop systemic evil) and rebuilding (create new just systems).  
• Action in one level of society impacts the others (individual, family, civil institutions, businesses, government).  
• There are many options for actions to take, and all are needed!  These include: lifestyle changes, economic advocacy, legislative advocacy, community organizing, education and consciousness raising, public witness, economic alternatives, direct service to those in need, worship and prayer, and theological reflection.  

During the rest of the convocation there was time for conversations, relationship building, and breakout sessions on immigration and refugees, human trafficking, gospel nonviolence, feminism, legislative advocacy, Laudato Si and care of creation, and racism.  Many of these topics and actions are items that the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word are already actively involved in, and Jennifer share about some of the ways the CCVIs have engaged in prayer, education, and action around gospel nonviolence, human trafficking, and care of creation.  

On the final day of the convocation each table had time to reflect on the following two questions: 1) What needs to happen to ensure a vital JPIC ministry in women's religious congregations working toward systemic change? 2) How can we as JCWR (justice coordinators for women religious) members help foster this organization?  There were many great ideas and hopes shared to continue supporting one another and working together for systemic change as women's religious congregations.  There was overwhelming support to continue having these national convocations every two years, and in the off years to try and have more regional gatherings.  

After gathering together for three days in prayer, education, and reflection, we left with a renewed sense of hope, energy, and commitment to the work of justice, peace, and care of creation, knowing that we are in the struggle together and are continuing a long and powerful history of faithful resistance to injustice and evil in the name of our loving God.  

The closing blessing of the convocation