Women Are Also Victims of Clergy Sex Abuse, CathNews Asia, June 21, 2010

Women Are Also Victims of Clergy Sex Abuse

CathNews Asia
June 21, 2010

http://www.cathnewsasia.com/2010/06/21/women-are-also-victims-of-clergy-sex-abuse/

The issue of sexual abuse of women in the Church in Asia has been simmering beneath the surface for a long time. It is not a new issue. It has just never made the news before. But that must now be rectified. (Virginia Saldanha, ucanews.com)

Over the years I have become acutely aware that the problem is widespread. Many victims are crying out for justice, healing and support. But too often those cries for help are silent, made by the women victims to themselves alone.

That must stop.

There is no shortage of anecdotal evidence of the scale of the problem which in some cases dates back many years. Astrid Lobo-Gajiwala, a prominent leader in the women's movement in the Church recently shared this story with me:

"I had gone for a family camp organized by Church personnel about 10-12 years ago. I wandered into the kitchen to meet the helpers and got into conversation with the cook.

"When she came to know who I was she told me her story. She was a former nun who was forced to leave because she became pregnant. She was very, very bitter."