Secular Café Archive

Blaming the victim: A Catholic archbishop tells his congregation that the root cause of domestic violence is a woman’s disobedience to her husband.

Speaking to his congregation in Toledo, Spain, Archbishop Braulio Rodriguez said that wives could escape being physically abused by not being disobedient and by not asking their husbands for a divorce.

Rodriguez, who is the Archbishop of Toledo, spoke to his congregation about relationships at a sermon held in Toledo Cathedral on December 27.

In addition to blaming women for domestic violence, the archbishop criticised “false marriages” and “quickie divorces.”

Rodriguez said:

The majority of cases of domestic violence happen because the woman’s partner does not accept them, or rejects them for not accepting their demands.

Referring to domestic violence as a “macho reaction” the archbishop added:

… often the macho reaction comes about because she (the wife) asked for a separation.