On today's (25/11) World Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women , Metropolitan of Tamasos and Mountainous Isaiah was at the Association for the Prevention and Handling of Violence in the Family.
In a speech made by the Metropolitan of Tamassos during the Press Conference at the Launch of 16 Days of Global Action for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Metropolitan of Tamassos
spoke about the pastoral practices followed by the church, which are likely to contribute to the development of such phenomena and spoke about new modernized approaches to such issues.[/P]"This form of gender-based violence is predominantly found within the context of the family. Domestic, or domestic violence. It cannot be argued that the reason why women suffer and tolerate violence is directly related to their vulnerability due to lack of education or economic insecurity. Reasonably therefore, it is imperative to ask what the possible causes might be. As far as we are concerned, in a theological view of the problem, we might reflect, do old-world, non-Christian perceptions survive and shape social mores and attitudes even within the ecclesiastical sphere?
Are the above assisted by a form of outdated, and erroneous religious mentality which attributes a subordinate status to women? Does the church, in the exercise of its pastoral work, tolerate or justify the stay of abused women in situations of violence, promoting it as a form of exercise? Dedication to marriage and family as a form of virtue and a type of martyrdom in the name of God?
At last the Church must wake up from the lethargy of conservatism and outdated concepts, purify the always timeless and loving message of the Gospel, which has been filled with historically old conservatives and prejudices, and let the genuine always renewing spirit of Jesus' love lead us to new modernized positional approaches and handling of such issues. There is an urgent need to develop synergies, programs across the whole range of the Metropolises of the Church of Cyprus and at the same time to support infrastructure for dealing with violence in the family.
We as the Metropolis of Tamassos will continue our cooperation and will proceed with the development of hospitality and entertainment programs as we did before."
It should be noted that the Metropolitan of Tamassos is in charge of the humanitarian department of the Holy Synod and President of Centhea.
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