EX-POPE NEEDS A HISTORY LESSON

Re: ‘Ex-pope says sexual revolution led to abuse crisis,’ Cape Breton Post, April 12.

Memo to Pope Benedict. Women and children were abused long before the sexual revolution.

The abuse of black women and girls held in slavery, the mass rape of women in the Second World War and all preceding wars, the exploitation of women forced into prostitution by starvation in famines that followed wars and other past crimes against women and children can be blamed on the sexual revolution.

I don’t agree with all aspects of the sexual revolution. It was supposed to be about choice, but single people or those whose spouse has died are regarded as oddities when they choose to live a celibate life.

However, one of the positive aspects was that the sexual revolution sought to eliminate the double standard. There were men who sought to live by the same standards expected of women but for the most part men were free to “sow their wild oats” while women were expected to remain chaste. Prior to the sexual revolution, women who lost their virginity before marriage were deemed unworthy, even those who were victims of rape.

One could argue that the sexual revolution started a process that allowed people to shine a light on the abuse that was hidden or centuries, when the real victims were voiceless while the perpetrators were assured of their entitlement and power.

The only elements responsible for the sexual abuse of women and girls are those who commit the crimes and the people who refuse to hold them accountable. That includes everyone from the bishop who covers up for the clergy to the coach who covers up for his players. Those are the elements that should be vilified.

M. Monica MacDonald

North Sydney