AUSTRALIA
The Australian
Richard Yallop
March 22, 2005
SEXUAL and emotional violence towards women by priests and church workers has been ignored by a "feudal" male hierarchy in Adelaide's Anglican diocese.
Melbourne academic Zoe Morrison based her findings on a survey of 57 of Adelaide's 106 Anglican priests and in-depth interviews with 12 of the group.
She said the survey revealed an entrenched culture of hostility towards women and a reluctance by church authorities to investigate complaints of abuse.
Dr Morrison's report, to be released today to Adelaide's clergy, indicates a spectrum of verbal and physical assault towards women, ranging from isolated allegations of rape to bullying and harassment. It also alleges assaults by male clergy on female clergy.
Dr Morrison, a 27-year-old Rhodes scholar and specialist in the exercise of power in relationships, said that while child sexual abuse was now well recognised, abuse of female adults was not recognised, and in many instances church leaders had suppressed knowledge of it.
Posted by kshaw at March 21, 2005 11:42 AM