Peace and Justice
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As members of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, the Franciscan Sisters of Peace, stand with the other more than 1300 leaders of Catholic sisters nationwide as we make this statement:
April 22, 2021
The following is a joint statement issued by The National Black Sisters’ Conference (NBSC) and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) in response to the conviction of former police officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd.
We, the National Black Sisters’ Conference and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, stand together in our commitment to the sacred dignity of each human person as emphasized in Catholic Social Teaching.
In the aftermath of the guilty verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd, we recommit to working for real and sustained systemic change in the struggle to end institutional racism in every aspect of our society.
Sadly, we know that the trend of fatal police shootings has only escalated in this country over the last four years. The rate of fatal police shootings among Black Americans is much higher than that of any other ethnic group. Starting with the savage beating of Rodney King in Los Angeles in 1991 up to the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the trend of abuse at the hands of law enforcement has alarmingly increased.
In 2020 there were 1,021 fatal police shootings, and in the first three months of this year 213 people have been shot by the police; 30 of whom were African Americans. Police brutality is only one of the many manifestations of systemic racism; but it is one that too often ends in the death of too many young African Americans.
We believe that we are at a crucial moment in race relations in this country. We must acknowledge and work to eradicate the sin of White Privilege that seeks to affirm the false superiority of Anglo-Saxon culture and way of life.
We must as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. admonished us “learn to live together as brothers (and sisters) or perish together as fools.” Therefore, we call upon all people of good will and especially people of faith to join us in working for real and sustainable solutions to the racial divide in our country.
We will not rest and our work will not be done until the belief that all people are created equal and entitled to the promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, is a lived reality for every American citizen.
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Immigrants Held in Detention Centers
For a number of years, our sisters have been working with First Friends of NJ & NY drawing attention to the plight of immigrant detainees in the Elizabeth Detention Center and three county jails in northern New Jersey. The Franciscan Sisters of Peace have a strong relationship with First Friends, since the mission
of First Friends closely coincides with the congregation’s focus on immigration issues.
The Franciscan Sisters and Associates provide support to First Friends through:- daily prayer intentions
- contribution of stationery supplies and funds to the 'Stamp Out Despair' campaign
- promoting awareness of the vigils, rallies, and fundraisers
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Human Trafficking Prevention
Our study and actions on Immigration led us to an awareness of the fact that Trafficking of Human Persons or Modern Day Slavery has become an international industry. It exchanges women, children and men for huge profits to a network of criminals.
In January 2010, a Presidential Proclamation set the month of January as “National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention” month. In 2011 the President declared that this should be an annual observance since evidence indicated that modern day slavery abounds in our country and all around the globe.
The Franciscan Sisters of Peace have joined other women's congregations in supporting LifeWay Network which has recently opened a Safe House in New York City to provide shelter and other services to women who have been rescued from sexual slavery.
Corporate Stance
Our congregation has voted unanimously in favor of a Corporate Stance against human Trafficking,
which reads in part:
“We, the Franciscan Sisters of Peace stand in opposition to all forms of human trafficking.
We pledge ourselves to:- Pray to end the injustice of trafficking
- Educate ourselves and others
- Collaborate with organizations to eliminate all forms of trafficking
- Support efforts to assist trafficking victims and survivors
- Use our power as consumers to work against incentives for trafficking."
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LifeWay Network
LifeWay Network envisions a world in which human trafficking is abolished and every survivor is strong, connected and free.LifeWay Network joins the global movement against human trafficking by providing safe housing for women who have been trafficked and offering education about trafficking to the general public.
LifeWay Network confronts the reality of human trafficking every day by changing the future for women survivors through our Safe Housing Program and increasing awareness and engagement through our Education Program.
Since its founding in 2007, LifeWay Network has emphasized the power of collaboration in creating the slavery-free future we all envision. We believe in bringing people together to form community and address a global issue with significant local impact. Human trafficking occurs around us. It affects people in our neighborhoods. We must join together to end slavery today and empower survivors to reclaim a life of freedom.
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Minores Fund
We, the Franciscan Sisters of Peace, continually respond to the call to be servants and to enter into solidarity with the “Minores” of our time- called to make the concerns of the poor and powerless our own.
The Minores Fund is a congregation fund that directly serves today’s poor and powerless in ways that are connected to our charism and Franciscan values, and are reflected in our Chapter Direction Statement.
The most recent grant from the Minores Fund was for support of Seafarers & International House in New York city. Since 1873, Seafarers, operating under the auspices of the Lutheran Church, has responded to the urgent needs of vulnerable seafarers and immigrants. Funds were sent to the organization in support of the annual ‘Christmas At Sea’ program, which provides satchels of warm clothing to seafarers who are confined to ships due to long term contracts, and more so this year due to the lengthy delays in getting ships into port. We view these seafarers as “unseen essential workers” during the current pandemic, which keeps them separated from family during the holidays.
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