Warning: Vicars advised not to wear their dog collars in public because they are more likely to be attacked
Posted on 10/07/2007 11:28:49 AM PDT by Stoat
Warning: Vicars advised not to wear their dog collars in public because they are more likely to be attacked
Vicars are being advised to take off their dog collars when they go out while off duty to reduce the risk of being attacked by yobs.
New advice states that even the Archbishop of Canterbury should remove his dog collar outside church.
Priests should also seek the company of "guardian angels" to reduce the risk of being assaulted and protect vicarages by installing a number of security devices.
A new report by National Churchwatch, an independent organisation which provides clergy with personal safety advice, warns priests are often targeted more than other professions as they are considered unlikely to fight back.
Falling congregations and an education system which focuses on understanding all faiths has made the Church of England priest more at risk.
The report states: "A knock on effect of this is that attacking a member of the clergy is seen by most criminals as no different to attacking a shopkeeper, robbing an old lady or any other member of society, if their own motivation demands this action."
Five vicars have been murdered in the past decade, and a 2001 study found that 12 per cent of clergy had suffered some form of violence.
Around half of all assaults on clergy occur away from the vicarage and the report highlighted the importance of the "clerical collar" in making them more vulnerable.
"The fact that clergy are clearly identifiable away from their place of work/home raises the risk of them meeting a motivated offender who uses violence as a method of achieving their aims," the report states.
Author Nick Tolson said the warning about not wearing dog collars at all time was relevant to all clergy, including the Archbishop of Canterbury.
He said: "When they are on their own, and when they are off duty, for example when they are also doing their shopping in Tesco on their own, there is no need for them to wear their dog collars."
Mr Tolson said: "For some clergy this is real radical stuff. The argument against it is it's their witness in the community - their way of saying, 'hello, I'm the vicar.'
"That's fine when you're being the vicar. If you're visiting someone or going to an old people's home, wear your dog collar. That means you're with people. It's when you're on your own, that's the key thing.
"There are times when you can be in church on your own and you look out and see some guy who's obviously off his trolley. You may want to slip off the dog collar before you see him."
The report also recommends clergy make "lifestyle changes" to reduce the times when they are alone. The mere presence in the church or at home of a family member, parishioner or churchworker "reduces the chance of violence to a very low statistical probability."
Vicars should not invite people they don't know to their homes and they are advised to implement basic security measures.
These include installation of front door "spy hole" or CCTV to see who is at the door, a door design that stops the person outside from seeing in, an intercom to communicate with a visitor and there should be no letter boxes on entry doors.
The report concludes that clergy should follow the basic personal safety rules to protect themselves and to set an example to other members of the community.
The most recent murder of a vicar happened in March this year.
Father Paul Bennett, 59, was stabbed in the grounds of his church in Trecynon, near Aberdare, South Wales. Geraint Evans, 24, a local resident, is due to stand trial for his murder.
How utterly pathetic.
Since ladies are the most common rape victims, should they now be advised to cut their hair short, wear masculine attire and avoid wearing jewelry or makeup in an effort ot appear as masculine as possible?
How about dealing with the crime problem effectively instead, so that all of society doesn't have to live in fear?
I thought you might be interested......
Vicars told not to wear dog collars in public as it makes them a target for muggers
This is the headline we'd all like to see:
Vicars told to carry large-caliber handguns to defend themselves against muggers
While I sympathize with the vicars, these are not exactly alarming statistics. I'll bet that nearly every profession could make the same claims. One murder every two years? Out of a population of how many? I would think that that is hardly even statistically significant. And the statement that roughly 1 out of 10 had suffered "some form of violence" is so broad as to be virtually meaningless.
There is a problem, to be sure, and this "solution" is an act of abject cowardice, nothing more. But I hardly think this is the problem the article would have us believe it is.
“DOG COLLARS?”
Do people in England really call them “dog collars”? I have never heard them referred to as such, the correct term being “clerical collars.” This seems disrespectful, and it certainly says a lot about the lack of civilization in not-so-Great Britain these days.
God protect you Britain.
Nicky Cruz - testimony
Tough, but lonely, by age 16 he became a member of the notorious Brooklyn street gang known as the Mau Maus (named after a bloodthirsty African tribe). Within six months he became their president. Cruz fearlessly ruled the streets as warlord of one of the gangs most dreaded by rivals and police. Lost in the cycle of drugs, alcohol, and brutal violence (snip)
No authority figure could reach Cruz - until he met a skinny street-preacher named David Wilkerson. He disarmed Nicky - showing him something he'd never known before: Relentless love. His interest in the young thug was persistent. Nicky beat him up, spit on him and, on one occasion, seriously threatened his life.yet the love of God remained - stronger than any adversary Nicky had ever encountered.
Finally, Wilkerson's presentation of the gospel message and the love of Jesus melted the thick walls of his heart. Nicky received the forgiveness, love and new life that can only come through Jesus. Since then, he has dedicated that life to helping others find the same freedom.
The sad part is that the Church of England no longer stands for much in the way of morality. Perhaps that is why the hoodlums have such contempt for them?
I think I have a solution. Start packing heat!
(Oh yeah I forgot. This is the UK, where the criminals have the monopoly on violence.)
England has become what many want the US to become, a minimum security work camp that resembles a society. No sharp or dangerous things, just go to work and pay your taxes, while Parliament is in the back pocket of the London power brokers. The sun really has set on the Empire.
Oh, I do hope so! ;)
susie
No, if they just wear burkahs, they should be ok.
So,... who hates Dogs and reviles them? Who would mug a man of God of the Chistian Faith? Who would change the lexicon from CLerical Collar to Dog Collars to demaen these men of Faith? Think about it. Just asking.
Now, that’s just sad.
The U.S. has a lot of problems, but at least we haven’t sunk to this level.
Webster's II (1934) gives dog collar in that sense as Brit slang. Someone with an OED could say how far back it goes, and whether or not it’s usually derogatory.
‘Maurice, why did you bring that ghastly little dog-collared drip over here like that?’— Kingsley Amis, The Green Man, 1969.
“Dog Collars,yobs,off his trolley.” Are we speakin’ the same language?
I assume yobs are youts.
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