Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Pope Francis and Archbishop Martin

'Ireland must do more to stop human trafficking' - Archbishop Martin

“Many of those who are trafficked and who live in small Irish communities feel trapped in a world which is heavily controlled.”

ARCHBISHOP OF DUBLIN Diarmuid Martin has said that communities must do more to help combat human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Ireland.

Martin said such issues are global concerns, but also very real at a local level.

“The problem of human trafficking is a worldwide challenge. Very often, however, when we think of a challenge as being worldwide, we immediately think that it is a problem that exists somewhere else and not close to us. We must be very clear: human trafficking is a real problem in Ireland today.”

The Archbishop said that while it is “difficult to establish the real extent of human trafficking” here, it is a problem that needs to be addressed.

It does exist and it exists right down to smaller communities across the country. Hidden in Irish society there is a serious problem of people who are the victims of trafficking.

Martin said he is part of an initiative supported by Pope Francis called The Santa Marta Group, composed of Church leaders and police leaders in various parts of the world including an Garda Síochána, in this regard.

While police authorities are taking a lead in the area of trafficking there is also a real responsibility of Church and voluntary organisations to address the problem. Local communities have a role to play. The indications are that even in smaller Irish communities there are cases of trafficking in the area of sexual exploitation, in the area of labour exploitation, in the exploitation of maritime workers and even in the exploitation of children.Many of those who are trafficked and who live in small Irish communities feel trapped in a world which is heavily controlled.

Martin said it is “easy” for people to ignore the issue, but not acceptable.

“How can we tolerate that the practice of human trafficking can go on under our noses not just in our anonymous large cities but even in small communities?,” he asked.

Martin was speaking at a mass in Dublin to mark World Day of Peace when he made the comments.

Islamic State

Bishop of Cork and Ross John Buckley used his homily at a service in Cork city to speak about religious persecution, particularly at the hands of the Islamic State militant group.

“We have all seen the horrific scenes of violence and persecution on television and the dreadful images of executions perpetrated by ISIS. Religious freedom is at the heart of human rights.

“Today, in too many countries, people are being killed and persecuted for their religious beliefs. Turning to violence in the name of religion is a perversion of everything that a religion stands for,” Buckley stated.

Archbishop on IRA sex offenders: “Let the truth come out”

Dublin’s newest priest spent ten years as a car saleman

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
69 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mary Nugent
    Favourite Mary Nugent
    Report
    Apr 4th 2023, 3:34 PM

    A leak?

    171
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joanne Stokes
    Favourite Joanne Stokes
    Report
    Apr 4th 2023, 4:56 PM

    @Mary Nugent: No he wasnt there!

    131
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Jordan
    Favourite David Jordan
    Report
    Apr 4th 2023, 5:28 PM

    @Mary Nugent: Weird Alright.

    “The visit is connected to an ongoing inquiry in Thuringia, Germany”

    Prince Heinrich XIII, a cut leader is also based in Thuringia Germany. His cult, a Reichsbürger, or sovereign citizen movement, planned a coup but they were raided late last year by 3,000 German Police in 130 raids. So I wonder if it’s connected to this:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_German_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat_plot

    They have a weird idea that the German state does not exist and it is still occupied by Allied powers, who turned Germany into a company/cooperation. I know people at the time commenting on the Journal didn’t take them serious, but people used to laugh at that whacky Japanese cult too.

    That said, I can’t imagine a centre right party voluntarily establishing any sort of links with far right elements of the German Reichsbürger movement, or maybe they were infiltrated by Reichsbürger. Well.

    So it might a coincidence, and there’s two ongoing inquires in Thuringia, Germany.

    46
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mary Nugent
    Favourite Mary Nugent
    Report
    Apr 4th 2023, 5:28 PM

    @Joanne Stokes: email

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Jordan
    Favourite David Jordan
    Report
    Apr 4th 2023, 5:32 PM

    @Mary Nugent: Fount it:

    “German outlet Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk reported that the raid is connected to Mario Voigt — leader of the state parliament group in Thuringia for Germany’s center-right Christian Democratic Union — and his involvement in the EPP’s 2019 European parliamentary elections.

    The local CDU lawmaker was recruited to support the EPP’s digital campaign in 2019. According to reports, the group then awarded a contract to an internet agency based in Voigt’s home state Thuringia, from which he is later suspected of having received money.

    Since September 2022, German anti-corruption officers had been investigating Voigt on suspicion of bribery in business dealings.”

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Padraig O Brien
    Favourite Sean Padraig O Brien
    Report
    Apr 4th 2023, 3:30 PM

    What’s going on!

    75
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joanne Stokes
    Favourite Joanne Stokes
    Report
    Apr 4th 2023, 5:00 PM

    @Sean Padraig O Brien: Corruption at its best, watch this space….

    108
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute mcleixlip
    Favourite mcleixlip
    Report
    Apr 4th 2023, 4:50 PM

    And what about the offices of the People’s Party of Europe?

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ☀David Grogan✈
    Favourite ☀David Grogan✈
    Report
    Apr 4th 2023, 9:56 PM

    @mcleixlip: and the European Party of People

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute SPQH
    Favourite SPQH
    Report
    Apr 4th 2023, 11:18 PM

    @mcleixlip: The Party office of European peoples

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Serious Craic
    Favourite Serious Craic
    Report
    Apr 4th 2023, 5:42 PM

    Not a normal party. Chilling.

    39
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds