White Roses and Violence Against Women

This morning in worship we will acknowledge a white rose on the communion table, a reminder of the 25th anniversary of the senseless murders of fourteen young woman at the Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal. These women would have become engineers, no doubt successful in their field. They would have found partners in life and established families. Instead they were killed by a man who was angry at women, something which happens far too often in our culture.

Yesterday was the actual anniversary and since 1991 it has been the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. White ribbons and white roses are symbols for this day.

Earlier this week we heard of a woman in Toronto who returned to her abusive husband, only to be murdered, along with her two children. The husband then took his own life. We talked about this at home because Ruth, my wife, worked for a women's shelter as a crisis counselor for nine years. When she left that work she was so grateful that none of her clients or their children had been killed by partners. Many had been threatened with death by their abusers, often in graphic detail. There were many occasions when women left their situations of abuse only to return, which was disheartening for Ruth. While people are often puzzled by that choice to return, there are many reasons. They include economic hardship, a desire to have a home for children, shame. At times their convictions of faith, or of their pastors and priests, leads them back into danger.

We can all pray for all women who live with domestic violence and ask how Christian congregations can make their communities safe.

Thoughts?