An Italian priest has provoked outrage after putting up an article that said women were partly to blame for encouraging domestic violence by failing to clean their houses and cook properly and for wearing tight and provocative clothing.
“How often do we see girls and even mature women walking on the streets in provocative and tight clothing?”
“Babies left to themselves, dirty houses, cold meals and fast food at home, soiled clothes. So if a family ends up in a mess and turns into crime (a form of violence which should be condemned and punished firmly) often the responsibility is shared,” it said.
The mayor of Lerici, Marco Caluri, said on Thursday the article was “astonishing and deeply offensive” and the bishop of La Spezia ordered it to be taken down, saying it contained “unacceptable opinions which are against the common position of the church”.
A third of women in Italy had reported being victim of serious domestic violence, a UN report citing data from Italian statistics agency ISTAT said.
It said that as many as 127 women had been murdered by men in 2010, often as a result of “honour, men’s unemployment and jealousy by the perpetrator”.
Maria Gabriella Carnieri Moscatelli, the head of Telefono Rosa, an association that helps the victims of violence, said an apology subsequently offered by Corsi was not sufficient.
“I thank the bishop who had the paper taken down but I’m still not satisfied because I think someone needs to talk to this person and understand why he has these attitudes,” she told SkyTG24 television.
“I think he needs to make a deeper examination of his conscience that goes beyond apologies,” she said.
Corsi denied reports that he intended to resign as priest and in an interview published on the web site of the weekly Oggi, he said he would be carrying on with his work.
“After everything that’s happened, which has certainly been well beyond what I intended or expected, I think there’s need for calm, rest and silence to respond with the serenity and harmony required to carry on,” he said.
Much like what our Indian politicians believe.I am very surprised at this statement by a Italian priest and would expect The Holy Father or his office to please comment on this statement.
seems we must expect this when an Italian heads a organisation.
Shameful, very shameful should the statement be true.