Did you know that North Carolina is consistently among the top 10 states in the nation for reported cases of human trafficking? Sadly, Charlotte is also consistently the top city in the state for these cases.
Pope Francis has called human trafficking an “open wound in the Body of Christ, in the body of all humanity.”
Catholic Charities is committed to addressing this issue and supporting victims in our community.
February 8 is the feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita, the patron saint of victims of human trafficking, and a day the Church encourages people to spend reflecting on and praying for an end to human trafficking.
Born in Sudan in 1869, Josephine Bakhita was kidnapped and sold into slavery when she was 9. Eventually, she was sold to an Italian diplomat and taken to Italy, where she was freed thanks to the Canossian Daughters of Charity.
She joined the Canossian Daughters of Charity and dedicated her life to sharing her testament of deliverance from slavery and comforting the poor and suffering until her death in 1947.
Human Trafficking Resources
- Learn more about St. Josephine Bakhita and access a toolkit for the day of prayer and reflection from Justice for Immigrants.
- Get resources to fight human trafficking from the Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte Human Trafficking Awareness Committee.
- Learn steps to prevent the grooming and trafficking of children on social media from the Catholic Sisters Alliance to End Human Trafficking.