London - Catholic and Anglican vicars should remove their clerical collars while off-duty to avoid being singled out for attack, a church safety group said here yesterday.
Criminals often target clergymen because they are perceived to have money. The stiff white neck pieces - nicknamed "dog collars"- also can attract those bearing a "grudge against God", said Nick Tolson, who heads National Churchwatch.
"They've got to be aware that when they're on their own, they're at high risk," Tolson said.
A 2001 University of London study found seven in 10 clergy had experienced some form of violence between 1997 and 1999, and more than one in 10 reported being assaulted.
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'When they're on their own, they're at high risk' He said most assaults on clergymen were committed by parishioners, but vicars could prevent attacks by strangers by removing their collars while not on church business.
Tolson blamed dwindling church attendance for diluting the respect traditionally accorded to clergy. "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."
The Church of England welcomed the advice but noted that church rules say "clergy should dress as clergy".
The Reverend David Houlding, of St Paul's cathedral, called it a "silly, fashionable idea... I feel much safer wearing my dog collar when I'm walking through the streets at night. There is still an air of respect to it". - Sapa-AP
'There is still an air of respect to it'
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This article was originally published on page 1 of Cape Times on October 08, 2007
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