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Over the past two years, I have traveled extensively, speaking at parishes throughout the United States and abroad. Through the course of this work, I have come to know with certainty that human trafficking is not confined to distant places or unfamiliar communities. It is present everywhere. Despite this reality, I have often encountered the assumption that trafficking does not occur within our churches or among our own people. That assumption no longer holds.
In the past year alone, I have been approached by four women from different parts of the country who endured trafficking and sexual violence. In one of our church schools, two young boys in separate grades became victims of online predators. Most recently, during a parish presentation, I was entrusted with a letter from parents whose daughter had been taken across state lines with the intent of being trafficked across the border. The letter was made anonymous and shared with permission within the parish presentation to emphasize that even in communities perceived as safe, trafficking can and does occur. By the grace of God and the swift action of law enforcement and border patrol, she was rescued before leaving the country. The family continues to carry the weight of what occurred, yet they remain together and safe.
These are not isolated situations. Additional cases continue to come forward within our Archdiocese. In several instances, even parish priests were unaware that victims were present within their own communities. As awareness increases and the Church begins to speak openly and responsibly about these realities, individuals who have suffered in silence are now stepping forward. They are doing so because they recognize that they are being heard, and that there is a place for them within the life of the Church.
The work of education and training has opened doors, but it is the ministry of care that is drawing people forward. Survivors seated in our pews have quietly shared their experiences, often for the first time. Some have asked for my assistance in approaching their parish priests, seeking the spiritual healing they have long desired but felt unable to pursue due to shame or misplaced self-blame. These moments are pastoral encounters of profound importance, where the Church must be present with clarity, compassion, and truth.
It has long been my conviction that if even one person is protected from trafficking through awareness and education, we have interrupted a cycle of suffering that would have extended far beyond that individual. At the same time, we are now witnessing another dimension of this work. Those who have already endured trauma are coming forward, often in tears, expressing relief at finally being acknowledged. They speak of the importance of this ministry, not as an abstract cause, but as a necessary presence within the Church.
This is not an issue outside the Church. It is within our communities, within our parishes, and within our care. Our response must be equally present, grounded in vigilance, informed by training, and sustained by a commitment to serve those who suffer with dignity and compassion.
Ministry Impact Note
In 2025, 254 survivors of human trafficking and interpersonal violence were served through the Chapel of Saint Barbara and the ARISTEVI Foundation, a one-of-a-kind Orthodox retreat center directed by Fr. Peter Spiro. It is estimated that approximately 50 million people are currently being trafficked worldwide.
Contact Fr. Peter at frpeter@goarch.org.
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