Pro-Pimpin'

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Here's a wingdinger for ya...(see article below)

Anyone who knows me knows I am all about women's rights. And that includes the stance that women should be allowed to be priests if they want. But, while I am disenthralled with the idea of the established Christian institution as a whole, I guess that is neither here nor there at this point.

In this article a bishop is backing a campaign to legalize brothels "without condoning them" (but if you're not against us, you're for us, right?) He claims it is for the safety and health of the women, which is a nice thought.

Prostitution. Not the safest line of work -- physically or psychologically -- and certainly not a wholly respected profession. It is a fact that many women who go into this line of work are uneducated women, women with a history of self-esteem issues, abuse / drug abuse and / or existing psychological problems or a combination of all. They are human beings. Someone's daughter, someone's sister, someone's mother...they need more than just protection of their health. Let's be honest, chances are that this is not a first choice of a career for most of these women, but because they lack choices, they go this route. Many could be desparate single mothers, many could have a need for counseling, or just need someone to give them the self-esteem and direction that they continue to search for in futility.

And if there are those women who went into this line of work with full gusto, fully informed and enjoy what they do despite all the risks, so be it. Everyone is in charge of their own happiness and who am I to judge? But I'm not talking about those women.

For this bishop to throw in his two cents in this way is truly a half-assed assertion of the power he actually has to help out. He made a statement that focused on the health of patrons and health of the women in the brothel, but there is more than just "physical health" to these women. It seems as if the women in these brothels are viewed as just "bodies in danger". There are are other fragile parts of these women - their minds and their souls --which need just as much protection, nurturing and safeguarding as their persons. If this bishop did his true duty, he would use his power to establish in his church (or elsewhere), regardless of whether or not the brothel law passes, counseling centers, mentor programs, safehouses and means of further education and hope for these women, instead of just letting them be where they are - perhaps safer - but still without other options. It is the duty and responsibility of those with such power to help those without. Even Jesus counseled prostitutes.

I give this Bishop points for 'social grammar', but his "statement" is seriously lacking in depth and content. I guess they don't teach sensitivity and social problem-solving in seminary...especially not where women are involved. Catholic clergymen may as well sing out in a baritone chorus: "Function on, women! Copulate and procreate! That's all there is to you."

Bishop backs brothel regulation

Reuters – Yahoo News – Thu. Nov 8, 10:03 AM ET

A Roman Catholic bishop in the southern English port city of Portsmouth is backing a campaign to legalize brothels without in any way condoning them. The Right Reverend Crispian Hollis supported the local branch of the Women's Institute which wants to license brothels. "If you are going to take a pragmatic view and say prostitution happens, I think there is a need to make sure it's as well regulated as possible for the health of people involved and for the safety of the ladies themselves," Hollis said. "That's not to say I approve of prostitution in any way. I would be very much happier if there was no prostitution in Portsmouth," he told The Portsmouth News. "But it's going to be there whatever we do and it has been from time immemorial. So I think that is something we have to be realistic about." His comments won praise from Rachel Frost, from the International Union for Sex Workers. "The bishop should be commended for having the guts to come out and say that," she said.