AMERICA/ARGENTINA - Cardinal Bergoglio on the anniversary of the International Convention on the Rights of Immigrant Workers: “It's worth fighting for an end to slavery.”

Buenos Aires (Agenzia Fides) - “It's worth fighting for an end to slavery” and “crying out so that this infernal system of exclusion and marginalization may experience a change of heart.” This is what Cardinal Jorge M. Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires and Primate of Argentina, said during the Mass celebrated on September 4 in Plaza Constitucion, on the the anniversary of the International Convention on the Rights of Immigrant Workers, with the theme: “With hope, words, and actions, working for a just, free, and worthy society for all.”
The Cardinal expressed his closeness and solidarity with all those who suffer situations of slavery or marginalization in the cities. “We should all fight together,” so that the road to justice may be opened. “Let cry out with strength and without fear. No to slavery, no to children, men, and women who are treated like refuse,” the Archbishop of Buenos Aires said. “They want to take away our strength and rob our dignity,” and thus the need to remain united “to have fewer slaves.” Among the causes that have increased slavery in the country, the Archbishop says, is the spread of corruption. There is a city that “does not realize that it is selling its own children, excluding them and enslaving them.” In brief, “they are disposed of and treated like merchandise.”
The Mass was offered for all women rescued from prostitution networks, for the victims of abuse in the workplace, and for all those forced to work illegally. During the offertory, several women presented a net with photographs of missing women, victims of criminal organizations, along with other symbolic gifts.
For the second consecutive year, the Mass presided by Cardinal Bergoglio has been organized by the Oblate Sisters of the Most Holy Redeemer, of the parishes of Boca-Barracas-Constitucion and the Immigration Department of the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires. The celebration was also attended by the “Cooperativa La Alameda” and the Movement of Excluded Workers (MTE), organizations working on denouncing cases of abuse and trafficking of persons. (GT) (Agenzia Fides 7/9/2009)