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.
We're talking about the UK here, so NO! That would only exacerbate the risk.
If they need to dress for personal safety, they should at the very least wear long sleeves & long pants and a hijab. Better protection would be a burka & niqab.
American women, of course may opt for a more mundane protective attire, usually something in a "size .40", preferrably hammerless.
“Dog Collars”
This is not a derogatory usage, nor is it recent. It has been the commonly used term for a clerical collar (all denominations) in Britain for more than a century. The first recorded use in the OED dates from 1883.
I wonder who, exactly, would be a 'motivated offender'?
“dog collars”?
Who refers to clerical rainment as “dog collars”?
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.
I didn't need to think too long. "Sigh"
The U.K. could certainly use someone like Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
Inside America's toughest jail (Brit paper says Sheriff Joe Arpaio's ideas would be great for U.K.)
*ouch*
Indeed. Tis more blessed to give than to receive.
***“DOG COLLARS?”***
Yup, the lack of respect of the media might just have something to do with the problem.
Thank you.
I'll bet they aren't...
I assume they’re referring to the fellas who wear clerical bands on duty and not the ones who wear studded-leather neckbelts off duty, yes?
I wonder who, exactly, would be a 'motivated offender'?
I'm assuming that in this context what's being referred to are yobs, guttersnipes, lags and caddish ne'er-do-wells.
A Brooklyn or Dallas police officer would most likely opt for different terminology as well as a different solution to the problem.
It goes back at least as far as the Sherlock Holmes stories (which were written in the 1880s and 1890s, mostly).
I suppose it's mildly disrespectful, but originally in only a playful way. The term makes a distinction between the Roman collar, which has a "collarette" or collar cover (or is worn under the cassock or soutane), so that only a little square cutout shows at the front -- and the Anglican collar, which goes all the way around in a white band, and thus looks more like a dog's collar. The term is used for the all-round Anglican collar.
English slang. See previous post.
It's the Anglican collar as distinct from the Roman collar (see above).
I love "ghastly little dog-collared drip," and I'm saving it for future use!
Thank you.
Hey! INFIDEL! Seen anyone with a collar around their neck? Duka durka durka!
That’s the problem my friend...we’re all supposed to cow tow to the scum of the world because we don’t punish people for their crimes. Maybe one day one of these thugs will attack an impersonator only to realize he’s not a Vicar or Priest but someone who can kick their Arse from here to kingdom come and then maybe the perp would be wishing for a Vicar or a Priest to say prayers for him.
I'm assuming that without actually naming names...
So, they’re telling them not to wear their ‘dog collars’?
I think they are barking up the wrong tree.
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