Priest in Italy Blames Violence Against Women on ... Women

Christmas message provokes outrage
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 28, 2012 3:20 PM CST
Priest in Italy Blames Violence Against Women on ... Women
   (Shutterstock)

Domestic violence is on the rise in Italy, with 120 women killed this year—up a third over last year, reports the Daily Beast. The UN Human Rights Council and women's advocates have been pushing leaders to get a handle on the problem, but a Catholic priest's Christmas message might have more luck, for all the wrong reasons. A sample of Father Piero Corsi's written comments:

  • "Is it possible that men have turned randomly crazy all of a sudden? We don't believe so. The point is that more and more women provoke, fall into arrogance, believe they are too independent and exacerbate tensions. They trigger the worst instincts, leading to violence and sexual abuse. They should consider self-examination and ask the question: did we ask for it?"

  • “How often do we see girls and even mature women walking on the streets in provocative and tight clothing?"
Et cetera. The letter has provoked condemnation and outrage across Italy, writes the Daily Beast's Barbie Latza Nadeau, and the Vatican itself was trying to distance itself from Corsi's comments. One potential upside: The letter is provoking a long-overdue national conversation on the issue. (More Italy stories.)

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