Catholic Bishops Oppose Violence Against Women Act?
Dear U.S. Bishops: What is the matter with you? The headline "Catholic Bishops Oppose Violence Against Women Act" speaks volumes to women in the pews. It confirms what many Catholic battered women and rape victims have long feared or suspected: the church is not a safe place for them. They cannot expect to receive appropriate pastoral care and support from their priests. And sadly, they are probably correct.
Dear U.S. Bishops:
What is the matter with you?
The headline CATHOLIC BISHOPS OPPOSE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT speaks volumes to women in the pews. It confirms what many Catholic battered women and rape victims have long feared or suspected: the church is not a safe place for them. They cannot expect to receive appropriate pastoral care and support from their priests. And sadly, they are probably correct.
Once again, ideology has trumped good sense.
“Five key Catholic bishops are opposing the newly authorized Violence Against Women Act for fear it will subvert traditional views of marriage and gender, and compromise the religious freedom of groups that aid victims of human trafficking.”
It seems that the problem for the Bishops is that the final version of the Reauthorization of VAWA finally passed by Congress and signed by the President explicitly prohibits discrimination or denial of services to lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered people. It has nothing to do with marriage equality.
Fact: lesbians and transgender people are targets of hate crime violence.
Fact: lesbians and transgender people experience violence in intimate relationships just like everyone else.
Opposing this provision means that you support denial of equal protection of the law and of services to people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Your homophobia is showing and it is not a pretty sight.
In terms of the “religious freedom” concern expressed in your statement: it is a tiresome red herring. No one is interfering with anyone’s religious freedom. Catholic groups aiding trafficking victims are doing excellent work; they simply may not be able to receive federal funds to do it if they limit women’s reproductive choices.
The key provisions of the Reauthorization help to insure that all women receive the benefits of federal efforts to curb violence against women: lesbians and transgendered people, Native women on reservations, and immigrant women – the most vulnerable among us.
Finally at the risk of stating the obvious: to oppose VAWA (after the fact) in the face of the abysmal failure of the Catholic Church to respond effectively to the crisis of the sexual abuse of children and adults by priests speaks volumes.
Kudos to Catholic laity, religious and clergy who are on the front lines in addressing sexual and domestic violence in spite of the wrongheadedness of your leadership. You might learn something from listening to them.
And call me. I would be more than happy to remind you about who the Good Samaritan was.
Your sister in Christ,
Rev. Dr. Marie M. Fortune
FaithTrust Institute
www.faithtrustinstitute.org
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Bishops and Violence Against Women Act