Faiths unite to fight slavery

#1160 for broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 6 December 2015

Leaders from several world faiths assembled at Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday at the invitation of mining magnate Andrew Forrest to launch of the Australian Freedom Network, committed to taking “measurable actions” towards ending slavery until at least 2020.

It’s thought that an estimated 35.8 million people are enslaved around the world, including 3,000 in Australia.

Salvation Army commissioner James Condon said all of the world’s major faiths shared universal values of dignity, freedom and social justice, and faith communities could play a critical role in helping eliminate slavery and prevent its resurgence.

Australian Baptist National Chair, the Reverend Bill Brown, said an essential element of the mission of God, expressed in the life and teaching of Jesus Christ, was to proclaim good news to the poor, freedom for prisoners, and release from oppression; and all those who sought to follow Jesus were called to join him in this work.

I’m Rod Benson for the NSW Council of Churches.