A renowned archbishop recently sparked fury in Spain by implying that domestic violence stems from women disobeying men. Braulio Rodriguez, Archbishop of Toledo, told his flock that wives could evade being hit by their husbands by doing what they are told to do. He also said that women could avoid being victims of domestic violence by refraining from seeking divorces from their spouses.

“The majority of cases of domestic violence happen because the woman's partner does not accept them, or rejects them for not accepting their demands. Or often the macho reaction comes about because she asked for a separation,” the archbishop said.

Rodriguez, a Roman Catholic churchman who has also vowed celibacy, said that most relationship troubles stem from a couple failing in “true marriage” and opting out for a “quickie divorce.”

“I don't think our political leaders are worried about divorce figures when they have fought so hard to implement the so-called quick divorce,” he said.

Rodriguez shared his inadequate opinion during a mass at Toledo Cathedral on December 27. After his comments were published in Our Father parish bulletin, thousands of angry Spanish women took to social media to denounce the archbishop’s teachings.

“The archbishop of Toledo has linked domestic violence to couples not being in a ‘proper marriage’. So says the celibate man who believes in a ghost,” wrote one while another added, “He should be locked up for inciting violence. This idiot should keep his medieval views to himself.”

In Spain last year, as many as 56 women were killed as a result of domestic violence. Various courts in Spain have heard over one million cases of domestic violence since 2007 with judges handing down jail sentences to at least 148,000 men.

Photo Credits: Malibu Vista