As pro-choice and anti-choice advocates continue to debate the morality of contraceptives, some priests have discovered a way of avoiding HIV and AIDS — and it has nothing to do with condoms. Their solution? Raping nuns.
Who says priests can’t practice safe sex?
In some African countries, nuns respect priests so absolutely that disobedience is not an option. They readily trade sex for favors such as providing accommodation or tuition, writing theological essays, and giving “certificates of good Catholic practice that were required for them to pursue their vocation.” In other words, sex for education.
According to Sister Marie McDonald, mother superior of the Missionaries of Our Lady of Africa, the clerical sex abuse problem is partly due to the “conspiracy of silence.” Sisters felt that speaking about the issue was disloyal. And for those who did speak up, things didn’t end up well:
Sometimes they were not well received. In some instances they are blamed for what happened. Even when they are listened to sympathetically nothing much seems to be done” One of the most tragic elements that emerges is the fate of the victims. While the offending priests are usually moved or sent away for studies, the women are normally chased out of their religious orders, they are then either to scared to return to their families or are rejected by them. they often finished up as outcasts, or, in a cruel twist of irony, as prostitutes, making a meagre living from an act they had vowed never to do.
But there is a hint of hope hiding in all this hypocrisy. Aside from granting favors for sex, some priests would ask nuns to take birth control pills. Some priests would even encourage the nuns they impregnate to have abortions. They may have been hypocritical rapists, but at least they’re progressive.
As the Pope’s official spokesman has said, we should focus on the bright side:
The problem is known and involves a restricted geographical area. Certain negative situations must not overshadow the often heroic faith of the overwhelming majority of religious nuns and priests.
Too bad not a single nun was spared from sexual abuse by this “heroic faith.” Maybe it’s time to try heroic action instead. Until the “overwhelming majority” speak up against the evils of its own church and demand accountability, all they’ll get are more abuses, excuses, and apologies.
Asking permission to reprint photo of nun walking in stairway with red brick columns in a collection of tagalog short stories. My email address [email protected]
Raped or not, it doesn't leave the priest who made sex w/ her sinless.
[…] African Priests Rape Nuns to Avoid AIDS […]
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS PERFECT IN THIS WORLD…… IT'S LIKE AN ARTWORK.. VERY MYSTERIOUS
the problem has been around since at least 1998 and just like the 'other 'sexual abuse scandal, nothing is going to be done about it. so sad.
Great work peeps,
Kriss
Marriage might teach those priests a thing or two about raising a family.
The article in "The Independent" is from a reputable journal and shows that this occurs, not just in Africa, but all over the world. The difference in power and authority between Priest and Sister is extreme in some societies, and how could the woman refuse for long, when she has spent her whole life obeying older men and Priests, even if no threat to her or her vocation is involved, let alone physical force, this is more than sexual harassment in the workplace. Sisters in mission to the people should be provided with information to protect themselves from harassment from any man, and ideally be able to contact a Sister or superior easily. Anyone victimized by Priests, or by any person, deserves healing and fellowship from the Church, not coverups. . <a href="http://www.saynotoviolence.org” target=”_blank”>www.saynotoviolence.org
Could you blog about this and incorporate the issue on the Vatican's mingling on Philippine Political affairs in re: RH Bill? thanks
So if the nuns do not speak to anyone about this issue how do you know this really happen? So are you hearing this from prostitutes during your activities, are they giving you the reasons they are in that profession. Just like the prisoner in prison say they are innocent when entering the prisons. Do you have a better story?
Based on what I'm reading, the report did interview the nun's superiors: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/va…
[The US article was based on five documents, which senior women from religious orders and priests have presented to the Vatican over the past decade. They describe a particularly bad situation in Africa. In a continent devastated by Aids, nuns, along with early adolescent girls, are perceived by some as safe sexual targets. The reports said that the church authorities had done little to tackle the problem.]
here we go with the usual femail denial syndrome! These women were not raped, they willingly engaged in sexual relations with priests and such relationships are still taking place even as I write this comment. besides, would you say that those nuns who had to leave their vocations because they were impregnanted by lay men were also raped? Please give women some responsibility for their actions….they are not grown kids!
@ patrick
How typical of a mysoyinstic apologist to try to pin the blame on the victim instead of the offender.
They were blackmailed to doing sexual acts with the priest in exchange for favors. From the article:
[Confidential Vatican reports obtained by the National Catholic Reporter, a weekly magazine in the US, have revealed that members of the Catholic clergy have been exploiting their financial and spiritual authority to gain sexual favours from nuns, particularly those from the Third World who are more likely to be culturally conditioned to be subservient to men.
The reports, some of which are recent and some of which have been in circulation for at least seven years, said that such priests had demanded sex in exchange for favours, such as certification to work in a given diocese.]
Under most circumstances, asking for sex at the workplace in exchange for favors of any kind is grounds for a sexual harrasment suit. People have been fired for this, if not jailed.
What makes the Catholic church – ESPECIALLY the RCC, which claim the moral high ground on matters of sexuality and just about everything else – any different?
What the priests have committed is a willing exploitation of a person who, due to their cultural nature, will not know any better and will comply. This is no different from sleazy recruitment agents sending naive OFWs off to work to an abusive client, or a criminal syndicate that hires kids to sell sampaguitas – or worse – because the kids don't know any better, much less their basic rights.
It may not be rape, but it is no less despicable. I may go as far as say it's worse, given that the report indicates that it's deeply entrenched into the institution's inner workings, and aren't done as a crime of passion.
And lest you forget, the RCC has been vocal about its opposition to abortions under all circumstances – you won't find a lack of documents reporting their preference to save the life of a miscarried fetus even if it means getting the mother killed.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18703442
So my question is this – what the fuck are its priests doing, endorsing the very same activities they've condemned?
Wow! This is so disturbing. I really think that The Vatican needs to rethink its stance on priests having wives. Not only would it make these sorts of situations more rare, it would also allow the priest more humanity on regarding issues concerning women.
please state your references
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/va…
The entire first quotation is actually a link to the article. Anyway, I added another link at the end.
So to the Pope, nevermind, let's turn a f*cking blind eye to those nuns who are turned to prostitutes, let's move around the rapist priests, and let's just get on with teaching our faith? What the fudge?
Those NUNS are disposable then? Instead of fighting for their dignity, he just goes, "Oh, yeah, we know that. Now let me prepare my opening prayer for mass next Sunday…" This is disgusting behavior from the Vatican.
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