Recent statistics
released by the United Nations reveals that approximately 2,5 million people
are victims of human trafficking at any given point in time and that only about
1% of these people have any chance of ever being saved.
It is further estimated
that 83% (2 million) of these people are trafficked for sex. In 2005 it was estimated that the human
trafficking industry was apparently generating an annual profit of
approximately $32 billion.
I have no doubt
that a survey of the civilised world would almost certainly reveal an
overwhelming abhorrence for human trafficking and a firm resolve that any forms
of human trafficking should be eradicated and the perpetrators convicted and
punished harshly.
Yet strangely,
despite an obvious aversion to human trafficking, it seems that the modern
world has difficulty in being consistent in its rejection of it. Take the recent example of the young woman
whose virginity was auctioned by a director of a reality show.
 |
| Justin Sisely |
An Australian
filmmaker, Justin Sisely, convinced a 20-year-old Brazilian woman to sell her
virginity to the highest bidder as part of his documentary entitled “Virgins
Wanted”. As a consequence of the auction,
Catarina Migliorini is now set to earn £490,000 for losing her virginity to the
highest bidder.
Catarina
Migliorini has argued that what she is doing is not prostitution. Why?
Well, because she claims that she is only intending to sell herself for
sex once and therefore she is not a prostitute.
So, if she is right, it seems that the definition of a prostitute must
now be amended. It must include the
number of occasions one is paid to have sex before a person can legitimately be
defined as a prostitute. This is clearly
just bizarre.
Justin Sisely obviously
argues equally vigorously that he is not a human trafficker. Yet consider the diagram below from the website
of the United Nations. The diagram
highlights that if one commits at least one of the actions in each of the three
columns, one is considered to be engaged in human trafficking.
If we compare
the actions of Justin Sisely to the above diagram, it is obvious that he clearly
“Recruited” Catarina Migliorini for his reality TV show. He then arranged that she would receive
“Payment” for selling her virginity on his reality TV show. It is also clear that the purpose was not
only to “Prostitute” her, but also to enable him to produce, for his own
financial benefit, a reality TV show. Yet
bizarrely Justin Sisely would have us believe that he is somehow not a human
trafficker.
This behaviour
highlights what I believe is one of the biggest problems with modern
society. While society may claim to be
concerned with morality, ethical behaviour, human rights and the dignity of all
people, society all too often makes its judgement of what is moral or immoral,
ethical or unethical, and so on, subject to circumstances. Society is simply no longer prepared to
accept that there are certain absolutes.
Everything is relative today.
The effects of relativism are visible all around us on an almost daily basis: pre-marital sex, using a cell phone while driving, taking a day off work on the pretence of being sick, divorce, skipping Mass, telling a 'white' lie, paying our housekeeper an unjust wage. We may wish to justify our behaviour, but the truth is
we really cannot. If we are honest with
ourselves we must stop disguising the truth and face up to the fact that we have been tolerating or perpetuating what is quite
clearly wrong, regardless of how serious or minor it may be. This is not always easy to
do, but it is absolutely necessary for us to begin being brutally honest with
ourselves, if we are to contribute to building a better society.
Maybe this
should be a focus for each of us during this Year of Faith. We could use the examination of conscience in
preparation for regular Confession to help us focus in this regard. Listen to these words from Proposition 33 of
the recent Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelisation.
“The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation
is the privileged place to receive God’s mercy and forgiveness. It is a place for both personal and communal
healing. In this sacrament, all the baptized
have a new and personal encounter with Jesus Christ, as well as a new encounter
with the Church, facilitating a full reconciliation through the forgiveness of
sins. Here the penitent encounters
Jesus, and at the same time he or she experiences a deeper appreciation of
himself and herself. The Synod Fathers
ask that this sacrament be put again at the centre of the pastoral activity of
the Church.”
The prostitution and human trafficking, which are described herein, mirror the ancient narrative of Fall of Man.
ReplyDeleteThe trafficker, Satan, the serpent; the £490,000, the Apple; the prostitute, Eve; the bidder, Adam; all together these continue emulating the degradation and falling away of man from God.
Clearly, at a certain level, nothing has changed since the Fall.
Clearly, the actors in the narration are destined to be swallowed up in Hell, destined to be expelled and excommunicated from the Gates of Heaven.
Clearly, there is nothing good being presented or offered here which will ultimately fulfil anyone, individually or socially.
Let’s be frank, these people have become slaves to Evil.
Indeed, if ever these poor people are to redeemed, they will need to be introduced to Christ in a real tangible way. They must then be converted and they will need in faith, hope and in charity to receive the healing “oil and balm" of the Church which us genuine Catholics know well is receiving Jesus in His Sacraments.
I am referring here specifically to need for the proper dispensation of ALL the Sacraments not just one or two or three, or otherwise abusing the liturgy and playing devilish games or experimenting with the sacred rites of the Church to no avail.
There is no other way for Salvation than the narrow way. Let the Truth be proclaimed, loudly!