Washington D.C., Jul 7, 2004 / 22:00 pm
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has called on the Senate to protect children, exploited by human trafficking in the United States.
Calling trafficking "a modern-day form of slavery" and "the largest manifestation of slavery today," Sr. Mary Ellen Dougherty of the Bishops' Office for Migration and Refugee Services urged the action in testimony yesterday before the Senate Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights.
The School Sister of Notre Dame testified at a hearing on "Examining U.S. Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking and Slavery." The subcommittee is headed by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX).
"Human beings are being sold into bondage as prostitutes, domestic workers, child laborers and child soldiers," she said.