Bob was in a horrendous motorcycle
mishap resulting for his legs in an awful shape. After two weeks of therapy,
the Doctor realized that they arrived at an unavoidable reality. Out of
compassion for Tom’s delicate condition, the Doctor was disinclined to tell him
the bad news. As an alternative, he
asked Tom’s wife Eva to execute the sorry task to, anticipating that she would
know how to break the bad news to him gradually and tenderly.
Afterwards, Eva approached her
husband and says, “Honey”, “I’ve got good news and bad news, which one would
you like to hear first?”
Tom, in a morose condition replied in
his usual cranky voice, “What do I care? Just tell me the bad news!”
Cupping Tom’s hand with her two
hands, Eva responded, “Well dear, I hate this to tell you but it seems like
your legs have to be surgically removed.”
Bob, barely able to hold his voice
from cracking croaked out, “Eva, what’s
the good news?”
Eva continued talking cheerfully and
says, “The good news is this.... the gardener who was here just in a while said
he may be interested in buying your sneakers!”
Funny, but something that makes sense
which we can equate with the real world at some point, isn’t it? For example,
yesterday I was surprised by what I read on social network about amputation of
women. Ironically, this globe has been
spinning for more than 2000 years now but there are still huge part of the
world that are culturists than covenant-oriented. Of course, culture should be taken with utter
respect especially if it’s something that does not compromise the common good
and relationship with God, as the Scripture says, “Hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy about
you when he said: 'This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are
far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts”(Matthew 5:7-9).
"development of the soul". Therefore mutilation is outside of the context of these premises.
Of course the world could bring an
end to female genital mutilation (FGM) within a generation, which is the
So what is FGM, and why is it still
being carried out by millions of women and girls around the world?
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a
procedure that changes or wounds the female genital organs for non-medical
reasons.[3]
It is called as "Female Genital Cutting" or "Female Circumcision". Although the tradition
predates the birth of Islam,[4] it has
taken on a dimension of the religion. It is, however, a tradition that is
practiced across cultures and religions, and should
In its most severe shape, after
removing the sensitive clitoris, the genitals are cut and stitched closed.
A tiny piece of wood or reed is inserted to allow a small opening for the
necessary flow of urine, and monthly blood when one comes of her age.
Most FGM is performed on infants or young girls before reaching puberty.
When she is ready for a sexual
relation and child conception, she is "unstitched,”
which is sewn back up again later to keep her what is described by proponents
as "hygienic, chaste and faithful".
In societies where FGM is ordinary,
non-compliance of a woman can bring discomfiture on herself and her family.
This is very common in Indonesia and Malaysia. It naturally takes place in a village
where there is no medical treatment, where girls do not receive any anesthesia, and the instruments are not
sterilized. This is performed by people trained as the village’s
“circumciser,” but not by medical-trained individuals.
Removing the clitoris,
which occurs in many FGM rituals, is made to ascertain that girls do not
develop any pleasure from their sexuality, thus persuading them to be chaste.
The male equivalent of FGM would be the removal of the tip of the penis up to,
removal of the penis and scrotum. Female genital mutilation is far more severe
than the other in terms of immediate result or long-term consequence.
As practiced by other countries, the procedure is
performed by conventional circumcisers or preachers, using basic available
tools, like thorns and thread, broken glass or razor blades, and without
anesthetic agent.
The endured pain is part of the
centuries-old ritual as a proof that the woman is strong. Corrosive substances
may also be inserted into the genitalia to scar, tighten and narrow it. Conversely, circumcision of men does not
suggest of attestation and evidence of man’s gallantry but as a figure of
baptism/sacramental rite/covenant in the ancient times. Bravery if obeying God's precepts despite the inconvenience of life's uncertainties.
About a fifth of all FGM is executed
by healthcare workers in hospital settings - bespoke clinics that use scalpels
and antiseptics. By doing FGM in a clinic, these risks can be minimized. Traditional pratictioners perform most FGM according to the news as presented below:
Compelling reason for such a practice
falls on monetary provision. Doctors and midwives in poor countries can augment
their income by rendering their services.
In Egypt, around 70% of FGM is made
by medical doctors. In Kenya and Nigeria, local midwives are cutting.
This is not just something that's
happening outside of the West but also in UK
although it is illegal.
Based on studies, approximately 4,000
women and girls have been treated for FGM in London's hospitals since 2009.
UNICEF approximates that more than
130 million girls and women alive in the world today have undergone FGM, mostly
for cultural, religious and social reasons, although support for FGM goes down. Shown below is the chart showing who carries out FGM in different countries:
There are no health
benefits, and even when it is performed in a hygienic setting, many risks with
FGM’s severe physical and/or psychological pain.
Surgery may reverse some of the
damage, but removed sensitive tissue can neither be restored nor repair
emotional scars, which flashbacks similar to soldiers who have been engaged in
a battle.
FGM is shrouded in secrecy and some
women are too frightened to speak out. Psychological trauma arose if they were
kidnapped on their way to fetch water or someone held them down, which scars is
very difficult to deal with.
Women need education and empowerment
in countries that practice mutilation, although it can be a long process as
this has already been embedded in many cultures.
Women may find it taboo when talking
about sexuality but safety should be prioritized than taboo feeling.
In Burkina Faso, it has been
accounted that more than 75% of girls and women have been cut.
Going against tradition cannot be
tough if one thinks that her decision is better than the other and for the common good. In the Philippines, there’s this tradition that
parents pre-arrange a spouse intended for their daughter which she does not
love at all. In fact, my mother is a
product of this. However, this changes
in our generation today because marital concern demands not only financial
dependability which parents desire for their daughters but also Spiritual
maturity and love; values which are gradually learned through values formation
and preaching at the pulpit.
There is no law that proscribes in
many places where FGM is existent, or not implemented if otherwise. Politicians
have been afraid to push through with it brought by death threats for speaking
out against FGM.
There was a UN resolution in 2012 to
ban FGM worldwide, but this practice has been prevalent even up to now.
World
Health Organization discloses that about 100 million and 140 million women and
girls about have undergone the surgery throughout the world, 92 million of them
over the age of ten living in Africa. Female Genital Mutilation has been
illegal in Britain, Canada, France, Norway, Sweeden, Switzerland, and the
United States.
Presented below is the map that shows the percentages of women and girls in Africa where FGM is concentrated from the ages of 15-49 who have
undergone a FGM surgery:
There are three general types of FGM
that a woman can have which can be performed anywhere from infancy to adulthood
:
Sunna Circumcision (Type I)- The tip
of a woman's clitoris is shaved or cut off. The word "sunna" refers
to Muhammad's early tradition of the practice.
Those who advocate for FGM from an
Islamic perspective[5]
usually quote the following hadith to argue that it is necessary as part of the Sunnah or Tradition of the Prophet. However, according to Sayiid Sabiq, renowned
scholar and author of Fiqh-us-Sunnah, all hadiths concerning female
circumcision are non-authentic.
Clitoridectomy (Type II)- This form
of Female Genital Mutilation involves the partial or even complete removal of a
woman's clitoris labia. Clitoridectomies frequently happen in places where
Infibulation (Type III) has been prohibited.
Infibulation or Pharaonic
Circumcision (Type III) - This most severe form of FGM is the removal of the
clitoris and labia, with the remaining skin stretched across the genitalia from
both sides and stitched together with either thread, thorns or catgut. This
leaves only a small opening for urination, and menstrual blood flows. A woman
with this third type of FGM has her previously sewn shut genitalia opened to
let her to have intercourse with her new husband, and then has it stitched back
up to ensure fidelity to her spouse.
What are the dangerous effects of FGM?
There are many physical and
psychological effects to any of these types which include transmission of HIV,
as the same unsanitary tools (such as unclean shards of glass, razor blades
etc.) are used to perform the surgery on many different women without being
sanitized. The surgery is often practiced without anesthesia, leaving the woman
in an excruciating pain. Women can experience extreme blood loss which leads to
possible death, high infection rates, pregnancy and psychological problems and
psychological damage, among the few.
According to the report, 1/3 of the
Sudanese girls who undergo the surgery do not survive it. The pains a woman
goes through after her surgery are sometimes referred to as the "three
feminine sorrows." Not only does the woman feel severe pain on the day of
her surgery, but also will she on the night of her marriage when her genitalia
is re-opened, and the day she gives birth which has lasting effects to a woman.
On the other hand, Jesus' circumcision which had
transpired on the eighth day after His birth (Luke 2:21), which is the sign of His
integration into Abraham's descendants, into the people of the covenant, and
the sign of His submission to the Law, (Galatians 4:4) and His delegation to Israel's worship, in
which He participated throughout His life, has been emulated by the world today.
This sign foreshadows that "circumcision of Christ" is Baptism
(Colossians 2:11-13).
Interestingly, the Chosen People
received from God distinctive signs and symbols that marked its liturgical
life. These are no longer exclusively commemorations of cosmic cycles and
social gestures, but signs of the covenant, symbols of God's mighty deeds for
His people. Among these liturgical signs from the Old Covenant are
circumcision, anointing and consecration of kings and priests, laying on of hands, sacrifices, and above all the Passover which the
Church sees as signs prefiguring the sacraments of the New Covenant.
Surprisingly, circumcision is
approximately two hundred million[6] that
practices circumcision in different tribes and countries.
Male
Genital Cutting is common only in the Muslim world, the US, the Philippines,
South Korea, tribal Africa, Israel, eastern Polynesia and outback Australia.[7]
Egyptians, Colchians, and Ethiopians,
Phoenicians and Syrians of Palestine (the Jews, as Josephus maintains) from
very early times were circumcised which they learned from the Egyptians. Even
some Christians circumcise their children, the Copts, the Abyssinians, in
Africa; and the Filipinos. To these last, however, it is a mere ceremony
without religious significance.
The Mohammedan Moros may have
instituted it into the islands, despite centuries of Christian influence
against it. The Abyssinians are wholly under Jewish influence, who are
Christians observe the Jewish Sabbath, circumcise on the eighth day, and
observe many other usages. The custom of circumcising is likewise found in
Sumatra, the east coast of New Guinea, and among the Samoans, who call
Europeans "the uncircumcised". In America, male circumcision was in
use among the Aztec and Maya races. The fact of its existence in Australia, and
in a great part of the islands of Oceanica, not to speak of America, would seem
to throw some doubt on the contention of Herodotus that it had its foundation
in Egypt.
According to Josephus, the age at
which the Arabs were circumcised was, thirteen years, in imitation of Ismael.
The regular cutting for circumcising Mohammedan children is between the ages of
seven and twelve years. The Bedouin tribes too, though not scrupulous
Islamites, have stick devotedly to this practice of their forefathers.
Circumcision among the nomads of the Sinaitic peninsula is a ritual that has nothing religious implication yet,
the beginning of the Koran is recited on the occasion.
Circumcision was given to Abraham, as
"a sign of the covenant" (Genesis 17:11)
need not compel us to believe that it
was unknown in the world previously.
To the Jews, circumcision had a
sacramental meaning, derived from its Divine institution and sanction. (Genesis
17:12-14; 21:4; Exodus 4:24-26). The Greek reading, "the blood of my son's
circumcision has ceased to flow", is vague. Sephora very probably meant
that she had saved her husband’s and confirmed their marriage by the shedding
of blood.
"Uncircumcised", is
frequently used as a term of reproach, i.e. profane, unclean (Judges 15:18; 1 Kings 14:6, Isaiah 52:1; Ezekiel 28:10, 32:25, 26 etc.)
In the past, many of the Persians
were circumcised and "became Jews, for they were seized with fear of the
Jews " (Esther 8:17).
The Book of Jubilees asserts upon the strict practice of the law, and protests
against those that "make the members of their body appear like those of
the gentiles". During the Greek rule in Palestine, when those that
observed the laws of Moses were put to death by the gentile tyrants (1 Maccabees 1:63; 2 Maccabees 6:10), some Jews, under Greek influence,
covered over the mark of their circumcision
and turned away from the ways and traditions of their fathers (1 Maccabees 1:15, 16).
To this epispastic operation performed on the athletes to conceal the marks of
circumcision St. Paul alludes, Was someone called after he had been
circumcised? He should not try to undo his circumcision. Was an uncircumcised
person called? He should not be circumcised. (1 Corinthians 7:18).
The eighth day was prescribed, even
should it be the Sabbath (John 7:22-23). A name was given, as in Luke 1:59 and 2:21, to commemorate the change of the
patriarch's name from Abram to Abraham, when God made the pact with him making
circumcision the sign of it (Genesis 17:5). In the ceremony, the one that holds
the child is called Sandek, from the Greek synteknos, equivalent to our
godfather in baptism; and as Elias was a zealous champion of the law, for which
he suffered much, there is a vacant chair for him at every circumcision.
The Jews were proud of their descent
from Abraham, but did not always "emulate the works of Abraham" (John 8:39) attaching so much importance to the
external act, that while attending to the letter they disregarded the spirit of
the law.
Jeremiah (4:4) calls their attention to the need of circumcision of the heart, as all important. Even in Deuteronomy 10:16 and 30:6, this spiritual circumcision is expressed in no uncertain language. As uncircumcision means profane, unclean, imperfect, "I am of uncircumcised lips" (Exodus 6:12), "their ears are uncircumcised" (Jeremiah 6:10), and was applied to lifeless things also, as in Leviticus 19:23, so to circumcise the heart (Romans 2:29) means to reform from within, by cutting off the vices and correcting the disorders that make him displeasing in the eyes of God. Leaving the synagogue was to give up that which more than anything else depicted it (Galatians 2:7-8).
The Council of Jerusalem decided
against the need of the rite, and St. Paul, in his Epistle to the Galatians,
denounces the teachers that desired to make the Church of Christ only a
continuation of the synagogue: " It is I, Paul, who am telling you that if
you have yourselves circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you."
(Galatians 5:2). Here he refers to the supposed
usefulness and need of circumcision, than treating it as mere ritual; for he
did not consider it erroneous to circumcise Timothy. However, baptism by
circumcision alone but encompasses virtually the sufficiency of the merits of
Christ, as the Scripture says, “Once again I declare to every man who has
himself circumcised that he is bound to observe the entire law.” (Galatians 3:3). The Apostle provides the spirit of
Christianity when he says: " For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor
uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love."
(Galatians 5:6).
In Romans 4, he shows that Abraham was justified
by faith, before circumcision was bestowed as a sign of the covenant; so that
the uncircumcision of the New Law is the continuation of the first ages of
faith on earth. According to St. Gregory the Great, the gentile church of
uncircumcision is composed of men from the time of Abel the Just to the end of
ages. St. Justin also says that as Henoch and the just of old obtained the
spiritual circumcision, so do we receive it in the Sacrament of Baptism.
Circumcision is typically performed on the first or second day after birth, or depending on the parent’s child
choice. Among the Jewish population, circumcision is performed on the eighth
day. The procedure becomes more complex and riskier in older babies, children,
and men. The procedure takes about five to 10 minutes if done in the newborn
period, which generally heals in five to seven days.[8]
What are the benefits of circumcision?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the health benefits of newborn male circumcision prevail over
the risks, but the benefits are not great enough to endorse universal newborn
circumcision. The procedure may be recommended in older boys and men to treat
phimosis (the inability to retract the foreskin) or to treat an infection of
the genitalia. Circumcision provides the following benefit:
- Reduced risk of urinary tract infections infants.
- cut the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, syphilis, and human papillomavirus or HPV, which causes cervical cancer in females as well as some oral cancers.
- Defense against penile cancer and a reduced risk of cervical cancer in female sex partners.
- Deterrence against balanitis (inflammation of the glans) and balanoposthitis (inflammation of the glans and foreskin).
- Avoidance of phimosis (the inability to retract the foreskin) and paraphimosis (the inability to return the foreskin to its original location).
- Makes it easier to keep the end of the genitalia clean.
Is there a risk in circumcision?
There are risks associated with
circumcision like any surgical procedure but this is low[9] which
include pain,bleeding and infection at the site of the circumcision, irritation
of the glans, Increased risk of meatitis (inflammation of the opening of the
penis), and injury.
In Islam, the ritual of circumcision
is generally traced back to the time of the greatest of prophets Ibraheem when
Allah commanded him to circumcise himself, his son Ishmael and all his male
family members, which coincide with Catholic belief in the Scriptural verse,
(Genesis 17).
Muslims are the largest religious
nation to circumcise their male offspring, which they call as tahara, meaning
purification.
Islam also believes the hygienic
effects and preventive measure against infection and diseases (like penile
cancer and transmission of the HIV infection) of circumcision, which says that
without it excrements may collect under the foreskin which may lead to fatal
diseases such as cancer. The main reason given for the ritual
is hygiene. It is necessary that every Muslim washes before praying. It is imperative
that no urine is left on the body. Muslims believe the removal of the foreksin
makes it easier to keep the genitalia clean because urine can't be locked in.[11] For them, Islam is a religion that guarantees the integrity of the human being - both in body and spirit. Female genital cutting violates that integrity, insulting Allah the Creator whose creation needs no improvement.
The early teaching[12] of the Roman
Catholic Church regarding the practice of male circumcision was stated by Eugene IV in a Papal Bull, Bull of Union with the Copts, in 1442, which is
misinterpreted by some because of concentrating on the last clause of the
stipulation than its entirety.
The Catholic Church "firmly believes,
professes and teaches that the legal prescriptions
of the Old Testament or the Mosaic law, which are divided into ceremonies, holy
sacrifices and sacraments, because they were instituted to signify something in
the future, although they were adequate for the divine cult of that age,
once our Lord Jesus Christ who was signified by them had come, came to an end and the sacraments of the new Testament
had their beginning. Whoever, after the Passion, places his hope in the
legal prescriptions and submits himself to them as necessary for salvation and
as if faith in Christ without them could not save, sins mortally. It does not
deny that from Christ's passion until the promulgation of the Gospel they could
have been retained, provided they were in no way believed to be necessary for
salvation. But it asserts that after the promulgation of the gospel they cannot
be observed without loss of eternal salvation. Therefore
it denounces all who after that time observe circumcision, the [Jewish] sabbath
and other legal prescriptions as strangers to the faith of Christ and
unable to share in eternal salvation, unless they recoil at some time from
these errors. Therefore it strictly orders all who
glory in the name of Christian, not to practice circumcision either before or
after baptism, since whether or not they place their hope in it, it cannot
possibly be observed without loss of eternal salvation."
Please be guided that the above-mentioned
proclamation of the Catholic Church was written in denunciation of those who
continued to practice the Mosaic Law.[13] Notice
the following parts of the Proclamation:
1. It recognizes what is condemned: "the
legal prescriptions of the Old Testament or the Mosaic law, which are divided
into ceremonies, holy sacrifices and sacraments, because they were instituted
to signify something in the future."
2. It recognizes when it came to an end:
"came to an end and the sacraments of the new Testament had their
beginning..."
3. It recognizes the Jewish tradition:
"Therefore it denounces all who after that time observe circumcision, the
[Jewish] sabbath and other legal prescriptions as strangers to the faith of
Christ..." (Not just circumcision alone, but other practices besides.)
4. It denounces the association of the Jewish
tradition with the Christian faith: "Therefore it strictly orders all who
glory in the name of Christian, not to practice circumcision either before or
after baptism, since whether or not they place their hope in it, it cannot
possibly be observed without loss of eternal salvation."
To wrap it up, no one is saved by the practice of
circumcision. No Christian is saved by practicing the Mosaic Law. The
Scriptures says, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor
uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working
through love." (Galatians 5:6)
"Was anyone at the time of his call already
circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone
at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision.
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but obeying the commandments
of God is everything." (1 Corinthians 7:18-19)
Chapter 15 of the Acts of the Apostles narrates
us that when particular individuals came down from Judea, they were educating
the brothers, 'Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you
cannot be saved.' (Acts 15:1)
On that note, the Church stated: "Therefore
I have reached the decision that we should not trouble those Gentiles
(concerning the requisite of circumcision) who are turning to God..."
(Acts 15:19)
Today, most Christian denominations, including
the Roman Catholic Church neither require nor forbid circumcision. The
Jews, the Moslems and some African tribes are known of this practice for
religious reasons. Some physicians vouch for circumcision with respect to
health and cleanliness concerns. The Catholic Church does not forbid
circumcision providing it is not practiced as a prerequisite of becoming a
Catholic.
There are some who practice circumcision for
cosmetic reasons, such being denounced by the Catholic Church as this implies
mutilation. Others accustom to it for religious reasons
(necessity for salvation), such being condemned by the Catholic Church and the
Holy Bible. Still others adapt it as cultural practice, for medical reasons and
tradition emulating their fathers’
practice.
The most common causes of bad smell around male’s
genitalia is associated to poor hygiene and skin infections. Uncircumcised males
need to pull their foreskin all the way back to wash the head once or twice a
day with soapy water. Otherwise, secretions and a substance called smegma accumulate
which causes a bad smell."
In conclusion, it is interesting to
note that Sacred Tradition[14] comes
from Christ, but not through the culturists minds which conceptualizes
hazardous practices. It's the full, living gift of Christ to the Apostles,
faithfully passed on through each generation by which the Holy Spirit makes the
Risen Lord present among His creation, offering the very same saving Word and
Sacraments that He gave to the Apostles.
It is evident that prior to Jesus’ coming, there had been these traditions
which were loathsome to the eyes of God.
However, these flaws of the humanity were already redeemed by Jesus as
He resurrected. And it would painful in
the eyes of God witnessing that His creations remain dwelling on repugnant
traditions that were already redressed through Jesus’ redemptive event, as the
Scripture says, neither does circumcision mean anything, nor does
uncircumcision, but only a new creation. (Galatians 6:15)
So I declare and testify in the Lord
that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their
minds; darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God because of
their ignorance, because of their hardness of heart, they have become callous
and have handed themselves over to licentiousness for the practice of every
kind of impurity to excess. (Ephesians 4:17-19)
So whoever is in Christ is a new
creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
[1] Cardinal
Giacomo Biffi, Archbishop of Bologna, Catholic Culture for True Humanism,
http://www.ewtn.com/library/Doctrine/CATHCULT.HTM
[2] http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2014/10/01/351756117/movement-against-female-genital-mutilation-gains-spotlight-in-u-k,
Movement Against Female Genital
Mutilation Gains Spotlight In U.K., Jesus’ Circumcision does not decree to
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), October 01, 2014 5:39 PM ET
[3] Michelle
Roberts, Anatomy of Female Genital Mutilation, Health editor, BBC News online, http://www.bbc.com/news/health-27188190
[4] https://www.mtholyoke.edu/~mcbri20s/classweb/worldpolitics/page1.html,
What is Femal Genital Mutilation (FGM)?
[5] Muslim Women's League, Female Genital Mutilation, January
1999, http://www.mwlusa.org/topics/violence&harrassment/fgm.html
[6] http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03777a.htm, Circumcision
[7] http://www.circumstitions.com/FGMvsMGM.html, FGC
vs MGC
[8] http://www.webmd.com/sexual-conditions/guide/circumcision,
When is circumcision done?
[9] http://www.ctvnews.ca,
Circumcision benefits outweigh risks, say U.S. paediatricians, August 27, 2012
[10] http://convertingtoislam.com/circum.html, Male
circumcision - the Islamic View
[13] http://www.catholicdoors.com/faq/qu340.htm, Circumcision
[14] http://www.beginningcatholic.com/catholic-tradition.html,
Catholic Tradition: Life in the Spirit
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