How Roman Catholic theology can transform male violence against women
Michael O’Sullivan is the director of SpIRE –the Spirituality Institute of Ireland – and author of the book How Roman Catholic Theology Can Transform Male Violence against Women. At Michael’s book launch in All Hallows College Dublin, where he taught theology, his work was described as “groundbreaking”, by Professor Linda Hogan of Trinity College Dublin, who said that O’Sullivan’s theological analysis of male violence against women “brings a new and unique perspective to bear on the discussion about the sexist substrata of the Christian tradition. It treads where few male theologians have previously gone.”
Michael says that violence against women is a world-wide phenomenon, and that Christian and Catholic teaching must be called on how it has contributed to this. He also outlines how the gospel stories of the New Testament, and the actions of Jesus with women, can serve as a counter-cultural challenge to the prevailing oppression experienced by many women.