Christian and Muslim Leaders Join Forces to Combat Modern Slavery

Teresa Neumann : Mar 20, 2014
Staff – Reuters

"We are struggling against evil in secret places and in deeply entrenched networks of malice and cruelty." -Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury

(Vatican City)—The Church of England, the Roman Catholic Church, and Al Azhar, a Cairo-based Sunni Muslim group, have reportedly joined forces to end modern slavery within 20 years.

According to Reuters, in a joint statement about their "Global Freedom Network," they declared that "physical, economic and sexual exploitation of men, women and children" trapped 30 million people worldwide in slavery.

Notes the report: "As well as establishing a world day of prayer for victims of slavery, the faiths agreed to "slavery-proof their supply chains and investments and to take remedial action if necessary, and press government to do the same."

Bishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo, one of the signers was quoted as saying that interfaith relations, such as the rare example of cooperation between the Catholic and Anglican communities and Al Azhar require careful study and treatment.

"But for other questions, human questions," he said, "the common values of humanity we can work together and this can be important for the theoretical path."