wfn.org | Cape Town Anglicans express outrage at abuse of women and children in

[George Conklin <gconklin@igc.apc.org>]

South Africa

Media release by the Office of the Archbishop of Cape Town, the Most
Revd Njongonkulu Ndungane, Cape Town, Sunday 23 November 1997

Issued by Quo Vadis Communications
on behalf of the Archbishop of Cape Town
Media contact: Theo Coggin 082-900-0168

For immediate release
_________________________________________________

The Synod of the Diocese of Cape Town this morning expressed its outrage
at the continued violent abuse of women and children in South Africa.

During a debate on the issue, numerous speakers cited illustrations from
their counselling experiences in ministry of the effects of violence on
the family and society as a result of the sexual abuse of women and
children. In one case, a member of the Synod spoke of young girls of six
being gang-raped by boys of nine.

In another instance, the illustration was given of the job that is being
done by schools in providing healing and counselling for mothers and
children who are the victims of sexual abuse and violence.

During the debate, several speakers referred to yesterday’s march
protesting violence against women and children in Pretoria, and noted
the public’s reluctance to get involved in the issue. The resolution
passed also said that resistance to the discussion of gender relations
and sexual issues in the Church and at home was part of the problem, and
that the “culture of silence” contributes to the continuing violence.

Seconding the motion, the Rev Michelle Walker of the Strand said that
the mindset underlying this issue had been “conceived and bred in our
Churches, cultures and laws when they perceive and portray women as
anything less than the image of God”. She urged women to refuse to
accept “the lies that are being fed us that it is acceptable for men to
devour us like beasts”. She also called on men, by their choice of
language, the jokes they told, and their actions, to send a loud and
clear message that women should not be demeaned.

“Please don’t think that this is a women’s issue – if you and I are not
actively working to alleviate violence against women, we are part of the
problem,” she said.
Ms Walker was supported by Father Len Cherry of the parish of Ceres,
when he reminded the Synod that there were verses in the Scripture which
spoke of the responsibility of women to be submissive to men [Note to
Editors: See Ephesians 5:22]. Father Cherry pointed out that some
translations of the bible aggravated the situation even more. One such
case was the Afrikaans translation which called on women to be
“onderdanig” which had particularly negative connotations in rural
contexts.

Another passage was Ephesians 5:33 in the Afrikaans translation which
speaks of the need for women to fear men. Father Cherry called on the
Church to approach the Bible Society to revise the Afrikaans
translations.

Ends statement