Papal preacher speaks out against violence against women
(April 3, 2010) All men must apologize for and rectify cultural and "pseudo-religious"
prejudices and acts of violence against women, said the preacher of the papal household.
In his homily during the Good Friday evening liturgy of the Lord's passion in St.
Peter's Basilica, Capuchin priest Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa focused on the Christian
response to violence. At the service, presided over by Pope Benedict XVI, Father
Cantalamessa said he did not want to talk about priestly sexual abuse and the scandal
it has provoked, but he did so at the end of his homily. Father Cantalamessa mentioned
recent criticism of the church, the pope and Catholics around the world. While he
did not specifically mention the issue of sexual abuse, it was obvious he was referring
to the increase in criticism, especially in the media, of how the Catholic Church
and Pope Benedict have handled past cases of priestly sexual abuse. Father Cantalamessa
read a portion of a letter from an unnamed Jewish friend of his, who, the priest said,
like many Jewish people, "knows from experience what it means to be victims of collective
violence." The letter condemned: attacks against the church, the Pope and the faithful;
the use of stereotypes; and turning individual responsibilities and wrongdoings into
a form of collective guilt, saying the current situation reminded the Jewish author
of "the most shameful aspects of anti-Semitism." In the main portion of his homily,
Father Cantalamessa denounced continued violence and brutality in the world, calling
it "an archaic leftover, a regression to primitive times." He listed some modern forms
of violence including bullying in schools and violence in films, video games and the
media. "However, there is a form of violence that is even more serious and widespread
than that by young people in sports stadiums and (violent demonstrations) in public
squares. I am not speaking here of violence against children, concerning which even
some members of clergy are wretchedly guilty," he said. "I am talking about violence
against women," adding that there was already "sufficient talk outside of here" concerning
the sexual abuse of minors by priests, Fr. Cantalamessa said. Abused women "find themselves
desperately alone and defenceless.” “Only today, thanks to the support and encouragement
of so many associations and institutions, some find the strength to come out in the
open and denounce the guilty," he said. Violence against women is particularly serious
as it often happens hidden inside homes, unknown to others; and the brutality is even
justified "with pseudo-religious and cultural prejudices," he said. When God admonished
Eve after the fall in the Garden of Eden and said that her husband "shall be your
master," Father Cantalamessa said God's words were "a bitter prediction, not authorization"
or consent of aggression. Father Cantalamessa said, Christ's passion and crucifixion
are signs that violence has been conquered and that it has been overcome with "a new
kind of victory that does not consist in making victims, but in making oneself a victim,"
he said. Pope Benedict began the Good Friday liturgy by kneeling in front of
the altar in silent prayer. After Father Cantalamessa's sermon he slowly untied a
red cloth to reveal the crucified Christ on a large wooden cross that he held up for
adoration. He then removed his shoes to kneel before and venerate the cross in front
of the altar. Good Friday is the only day in the Church calendar when the Mass is
not celebrated, but Communion is distributed. Church tabernacles are empty of the
consecrated host, symbolizing Christ’s death.