Raped priest protests
South Africa - Cape Town - 03 July 2020 - Day 3 of Reverend June Major's hunger strike. June embarked on a hunger strike outside the Cape Town home of Anglican archbishop Thabo Makgoba in Bishopscourt, saying she wanted the church to finally take her rape in 2002 seriously. She has alleged that her rapist, a priest, is still ministering. Picture: Henk Kruger/African News Agency(ANA) South Africa - Cape Town - 03 July 2020 - Day 3 of Reverend June Major's hunger strike. June embarked on a hunger strike outside the Cape Town home of Anglican archbishop Thabo Makgoba in Bishopscourt, saying she wanted the church to finally take her rape in 2002 seriously. She has alleged that her rapist, a priest, is still ministering. Picture: Henk Kruger/African News Agency(ANA)
A former female priest of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa embarked on a hunger strike on Wednesday to force the church to address the rape she suffered allegedly at the hands of a priest in 2002.
Reverend June Major, 51, set-up a tent and chair in front of the home of Archbishop Thabo Makgoba in Bishop’s Court, Cape Town.
Major was formerly a part of the Cape Town Diocese and ministered at St. Saviour’s Church, St. George’s, and at St. Matthew’s in Harfield Village.
She has alleged being raped in 2002 at the Grahamstown Seminary by a fellow priest, and accused the clergy of doing nothing about the crime.
Major also embarked on a hunger strike four years ago after the charges she finally filed against her alleged rapist came to naught. She said that since reporting the alleged rape to the church, she’s been left unemployed.
The Anglican Church of Southern Africa did not respond to ANA’s queries.
African News Agency