Henry-Crowe prefaced the hour-long discussion on "Violence Against Women in the Middle East," speaking at length on her trip to Jerusalem this summer. The trip, which was sponsored by the World Council of Churches and the Middle East Council of Churches, was the last of seven worldwide site visits designed to study violence against women in different areas of the world.
During her visit, Henry-Crowe met and interviewed many middle eastern women who spoke of their difficulties in receiving civil treatment from both the church and society. She told the story of a 15-year-old girl who was raped by her grandfather and became pregnant, but because she was an orthodox Christian, she had a very difficult time finding a doctor to perform an abortion. When she found a doctor, she did not tell any of her family members about the incident--she feared punishment or death at the hands of her father or brothers. When her grandfather raped her again a year later, the doctor would not perform an abortion because "he said she enjoyed it too much," Henry-Crowe said.
The culmination of the trip was a conference on violence against women, attended by women from around the Middle East. "Their stories were incredibly courageous," Henry-Crowe said. The women who attended compiled a declaration and appeal to the church that called for, in essence, the eradication of all kinds of oppression based on sex differences and an equal say in the decision-making processes of the church.
Henry-Crowe emphasized, however, that there were definite signs of hope for women in the Middle East, demonstrated by the fact that women were standing together, looking toward young people in their communities and depending on the integrity of the church. "In most cases," she said, "women were pretty hopeful."
The Chaplain's Tea is held every Tuesday at 4 p.m. in the Formal Lounge of Cannon Chapel.
-- Danielle Service