Jesuit University Director On Modesty In Dress

Mexican prelates defend editorial calling for women to dress modestly

Thursday 21 August 2008

MEXICO CITY (CNS) - An editorial in an online publication from the Archdiocese of Mexico City urging women to don more conservative attire has generated headlines across the country as Catholic leaders defended their call for modesty as a method of promoting dignity and reducing incidents of sexual harassment and assault.

In an August 14 statement issued by the archdiocese clarifying the editorial, church leaders said women should "make sure that their dress is not a pretext for being intimidated, victimized by violence and sexually assaulted in a city where gender-based violence is a part of everyday life." The statement added: "The church is conscious that the human body is naturally beautiful, it is a work of God and for our eyes, it is the most perfect of works." Local media responded to the editorial and statement with a steady stream of cheeky headlines, suggesting the church was out to ban miniskirts. A small group of young women -- clad in miniskirts -- protested Aug. 16 outside Mexico City's Metropolitan Cathedral. Even high-profile politicians weighed in; they included Ruth Zavaleta, speaker of the lower house of Congress known for her stylish attire. "How is it possible that it's a pretext ... that because we wear miniskirts we're now going to be victims of a crime?" she asked.

Catalina Morfin Lopez, director of the human development center at Jesuit-run ITESO University in suburban Guadalajara, said the church comments were received poorly by some groups because they interpreted them as "blaming the victim."

"Violence against women and children is a serious problem" in Mexico, she said, although she cautioned that it was difficult to compare figures on the subject with other countries.
Link to the full article (here)