Pope: Urgent action needed on violence against women
By Joseph Tulloch
Domestic violence is 鈥渁 poisonous weed that plagues our society, and must be torn out at the roots.鈥�
Pope Francis offered that reflection in a message sent on Thursday to organizers of a campaign promoted by Radio1Rai, an Italian state radio channel, and Cadmi D.I.Re, an Italian non-profit that helps women victims of abuse.
Immediate action
Radio1Rai and Cadmi.D.I.Re have recently launched a joint campaign entitled: 鈥淎 long wave to combat male violence against women.鈥�
In his message, Pope Francis underscored that 鈥渋t is the responsibility of each of us to give a voice to our voiceless sisters."
鈥淟et us not remain indifferent!鈥� he said. 鈥淲e must act now, at all levels, with determination, urgency, and courage.鈥�
The role of the media
The Pope then suggested that mass media plays a 鈥渟till ambiguous鈥� role in this regard.
On the one hand, he noted, it does 鈥減romote the respect and empowerment of women.鈥�
On the other, however, it continuously promotes 鈥渟uccess, self-assertion, competition, and the power to attract others and dominate them.鈥�
However, the Pope said, 鈥渨here there is domination, there is abuse.鈥�
Education in human dignity
In the face of the 鈥渟courge鈥� of gender-based violence, Pope Francis said, there is an urgent need to 鈥渞ediscover forms of just and balanced relationships based on mutual respect.鈥�
What is needed, then, is 鈥渆ducational action,鈥� which 鈥減laces the human person, and its dignity, at the center.鈥�
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