Priest: Challenge TT’s macho culture

THE macho culture which dehumanises women and infects men with false views of women and relationships must be challenged. This was one of a series of recommendations made at an Antilles Episcopal Conference over the weekend.

The advice came from vicar general for the Archdiocese of Port of Spain, Fr Martin Sirju, during the panel discussion hosted by the Archdiocesan Family Life Commission via a Zoom meeting.

“The bishops also spoke about educating people about the destructive powers of domestic violence, advocating for and supporting the implementation of laws to protect families against violence in the home,” Sirju said. The theme of the discussion was Dealing with Violent Relationships.

The commission’s objective, according to its website, is to bring together the resources of the Catholic Church and apply them to the renewal of family life via ministries to individuals, families and communities.

The priest suggested that the topic of domestic violence must be included in all educational programmes at schools, confirmation classes and marriage preparation programmes of the Church. Like the other panelists, Sirju called on everyone to play a role to help victims and perpetrators in order to reduce the number of cases.

“Churches are being called to work with different arms of governments and NGOs. We have to work together.”

Over the past ten years, Sirju said he observed more men coming forward to religious leaders “with a willingness to admit their problems” and trying to save their marriages/relationships.

“We are seeing a willingness by both parties to either save their relationship or marriage,” Sirju said. “If we (religious leaders) are dealing with difficulties in their relationships and not violence, we sit them down together with a third party to resolve the issues.”

Other panelists were clinical psychologist, Dr Karen Moore; survivors and representatives of the TT Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Camika Mc Letchie and journalist Valdeen Shears; attorney Marina Toolsie and project co-ordinator of the police service’s Gender-Based Violence Unit, Samantha Griffith.