Source: Interfax-Religion
Moscow, April 12, 2016
Head of the Synodal Department for Church, Society and Media Relations Vladimir Legoyda suggests following the example of France in the struggle against prostitution where they decided to fine buyers of "love for a night."
"As long as there exists in society an unrestricted market for prostitutes, the sexual exploitation of women - often deceived, deprived of documents, forced to sell their bodies - will remain a sad reality. It is impossible both to persecute those who sell women and protect those who buy them for a night," Legoyda writes in his article published in the Komsomolskaya Pravda daily.
He notes that the French parliament has recently approved a law envisaging fines for those who use the services of prostitutes. First of all, the law aims at preventing and reducing sexual exploitation of women.
"Certain American (!) channels showed reports about displeased prostitutes who would probably find less work. What costs more for society: the loss of prostitutes' clients or the loss of women's dignity who willingly or by force become live goods, whose buyers, until recently, did not run any risks? The question is rhetorical," Legoyda stated.
The Church official believes that a fine of several thousand euros can be considered as "payment for vice," but perhaps "it will stop many people from behaving this way, as the lack of punishment placed no moral choice before a man."
According to him, for many centuries such women personified sin, while people who use their services remained "respected gentlemen with ideal reputation."
"At least, they considered themselves as such. Many modern societies actively promote the thought that if the law recognizes prostitution as an ordinary profession, it will solve the problem of female sexual exploitation. But statistics are to the contrary," the article further reads.
The author stresses that Christian tradition does not make any difference "between sellers and buyers of human dignity."
"Perhaps, a piece of news from France will make people think that it is better not to sell and buy each other, so as not to become goods in someone's supermarket of souls," he resumed.
