The on-call priests are victims of sexual harassment

– in The case of talks with a sexual element, könsord and panting. And it can be assumed that the person masturbating at the same time. And secondly, it involves what we call the misogyny of the setting, thus the misogynistic setting. Where one is looking to violate the female priest, she is a woman, " says Vibeke Hammarström, federal director of the union Church, to the Echo.

is one of several hotlines and is intended to provide support to people who are in crisis or have various problems with relationships, substance abuse, or suicidal thoughts. The caller may talk with a priest in a so-called själavårdssamtal.

The free service is available all over the country and one can call the priest who is in service between the hours of 21 and 06. The service works with both women and men in all ages of employees in the Swedish church. The priests are anonymous and confidential.

if talks were abused, and the female priests are subjected to sexual harassment by men who call, reports the Echo. According to the Swedish Church, it is about approximately two percent of all calls, and the tendency is the same all across the country.

Vibeke Hammarström says that it is difficult to stop this sort of call since the caller shall remain anonymous. It also means that it is completely risk-free for the perpetrators to get in touch, " she points out. At the same time, they take up the time for those who really need someone to talk with.

– I would like to be not using the hotlines that are available for the exercise of sexual harassment. It is a fact that an on-call priest saves lives, " says Monika Kelly, who is assistant national coordinator for the helpline and also work as on-call priest, to the Echo.

who are exposed to harassment will be supported through, inter alia, supervision and training of the Swedish church. Monika Kelly is highly critical of people who abuse the community in this way.

– You should not accept sexual harassment, it is not our mission, " she says to Echo.

the Ability to talk with an on-call priest has been in existence for over 60 years.