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Women in Cost Rica took to the street to protest comments by senior Catholic clerics that women be creative at home, not emulate men and dress modestly to avoid being dehumanised.
At a ceremony honouring Costa Rica’s patron Nuestra Senora de los Angeles (Our Lady of the Angels) Mexico’s Cardinal Francisco Robles, said women should create “a more humane world by exercising creativity in the household” instead of “emulating men”.
These comments were then followed by up Cartago bishop Jose Francisco Ulloa who asked women to dress “modestly” to avoid being “dehumanised” instead of “emulating men.”
Ulloa also said that women’s ultimate purpose was fertilisation.
The comments to the 2 million faithful including the countries first femal president, Laura Chinchilla outraged feminists.
“The church has much more power than in other countries,” said Montserrat Sagot, a university professor and feminist leader.
“There is a direct relationship between the state and the church. … But what I think is positive in all this is we are awakening a sentiment very strong in the society. There’s a new generation that does not necessarily conform, and that wants to have a secular state.”
Ulloa responded Tuesday to the daily La Nacion, calling the protest “heresy.”
He condemned “sacrilegious” acts, referring the marchers dressing up images of the patron saint in lewd clothing.
Members of the Episcopal Conference of Costa Rica’s told the newspaper that the demonstration went too far.
Religious leaders said the event was “disrespectful,” “offensive,” “hurtful” and attempting to incite violence.
Through Facebook, the event gathered 3,500-plus supporters. The turnout was much smaller, approximately 700 people, including many moms and their young daughters.
“They’re our bodies, our ways, our clothes,” said protester Shirley Alarcon.
“We demand not only that the church omits those types of (sexist) messages, but also that the government backs our position, and that they defend the way we choose to be.”
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