«Love makes us patient. So many times we lose patience, even me, and I apologize for yesterday’s bad example,» the Pope said, after slapping a woman’s hand the day before. He added: «Women are sources of life. Yet they are continually insulted, beaten, raped, forced to prostitute themselves and to suppress the life they bear in the womb. Every form of violence inflicted upon a woman is a blasphemy against God, who was born of a woman. Women should be fully included in decision-making processes. Every step forward for women, is a step forward for humanity as a whole.»
“Parole, parole, parole”, I would say. Wishful thinking. The Pope’s pretty words are not strong enough to erase the awful image of Francis hitting that woman’s hand.
Historically, women have been discriminated in the Roman Catholic Church. They can’t be priests, can they? Or bishops? Or Popes? The gender bias is so obvious. Not to mention the horrifying stories of abused nuns, who were raped and forced to abort.
In spite of his apology, I´m afraid the Pope himself is somehow contributing to the mass exodus of the members of his Church.
Published on Buenos Aires Times