When staying with Monika, we were a 10-15 minute walk from Prater. I saw them. My heart broke at the sad reality that no matter where you go in the civilized world, those buildings with their tinted windows and provocative signs can be found. Walking to and from the Prater u-bahn I often preferred to walk on the other side of the street rather than have to walk past the door of the place of so much suffering. In the first few weeks I became aware that the 2nd district, especially in the vicinity of Prater, was the place "gentlemen" go for their lustful kicks, women reduced to pleasure-fulfilling trash go for the money or for their own lustful kicks, and I pass through on my way to the U-bahn, as if I needed a reminded of the need of prayer.
It was always in the back of my head...I wonder if this is a huge issue here? I wonder if their are any prostitutes? I wonder how many people frequent these places? I wonder how many people the Lord is asking me to pray for? Is that the only way I can help bring light here?
It became a special personal intercession of mine-bringing those who frequent and work in the "gentlemen's clubs" everyday.
Sitting in a cafe in Chicago, waiting for my meeting at the consulate and researching Vienna, where we can go, where we can help...the kind of research that was often too time consuming to do when I was in Vienna because of the language barrier. I researched where the orphanages were, the migrant neighborhoods, the largest hospitals or those with the reputations of providing the worst care, the homeless shelters, etc. I was also researching art and culture, trying to learn more about the modern art in the city, the gallery openings, what factors into the artistic identity of Vienna, and thus the identity of its people. I was reading an english, Vienna newspaper called the Vienna Review, when I came upon an article entitled "In the Shadows" (read it here). When I got to the last line, there were tears in my eyes, pain in my heart, questions in my mind.
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| via The Vienna Review . Photo: David Reali Caption: To women working on Messerstrasse in the 2nd District, waiting to serve clients in the bitter cold of January. At present, there are 2,374 registered prostitutes in Vienna. |
prostitution is legal in Austria
and we live in what would informally be considered the "red-light" district
Am I just a naive American who thought this was a ridiculous reality to discover? Well in fact, yes, I am. The next time I talked to Alina of my discovery, she merely said, "Yeah, thats too bad, right." Not that she doesn't have compassion for those people or that she thinks it is ok...its just that the complete legality of the entire system is a normal reality in most countries throughout the world. The U.S. is in the minority (even with its legal strip clubs, Nevada's legal brothels, not to mention entire networks of illegal street prostitution, escort services, "massage parlors" etc....I mean...who hasn't seen Pretty Woman?).
Seen as a necessary evil that must be tolerated, but regulated by the state, prostitution is legal as long as certain restrictions are maintained. Prostitute must register, undergo weekly medical checkups, pay taxes as self-employed workers, and perform under other state restrictions like where and when prostitution may occur.
Currently there are 2,374 registered prostitutes in Vienna, but the mere legalization of prostitution doesn't solve the crime and health issues.Street prostitutes who are active in this kind of – labeled by the Austrian legislature – “immoral” business, must abide to certain rules. These rules involve specific working hours and working places. During cold winter days, the work of street prostitutes is confined to eight hours a day, starting at 8pm in the evening and ending at 4am in the morning. During warm and light summer nights, working hours start at around one hour later, when daylight has disappeared. (The Vienna Review)
Vienna is referred to as the “Hochburg” or hot spot for legal and illegal prostitution. Even though legal official numbers speak of nearly 3,000 registered sex workers, NGO estimates go as high as 8,000 nationwide.
The Austrian government seems to be relatively on-top of the crime and health issues...which of course will never be perfect...it is a government. But what about the issues of the inherent dignity of the human person. You can treat the flesh, and the "freedom" of the flesh, but that doesn't mean you are caring for and helping the person, the true freedom of the soul.
just read the story of "Clara" in the article from the Vienna Review (through the link above...or excerpts below)
“Das ist meine scheisse Arbeit, Entschuldigung!” This is my shitty job, I’m sorry, she tells us. Clara is neither happy nor proud of where she is in life right now. In fact, she despises her job more than anything else, but it is the only way she can provide for her family. As a waitress, she would make €40 a day. Here she can make twice as much in one hour, justification enough. “Aber besser trinken Alkohol und schlafen, dann ist alles ok,” It’s better to drink alcohol and sleep, then everything is ok.
Large amounts of vodka enable her to cope with the bitter cold and the awful work. As we talked, the barriers slowly broke down; as things gradually became more personal, she began to cry. “I hate this work,” she said. “I hate the winters. Why do I have to do this? God forgive me, for I am a whore. This is who I am and what I do. I’m sorry.” Her tears flowed over her cheeks and ruining the several layers of make-up covering her face.
As things stood, Clara didn’t see any way out of her misery, nor, she said, do any of the others. There are several institutions and organizations, such as Women’s Health Vienna (Frauengesundheit Wien) that try to help sex workers by educating them about health risks and offering regular check-ups. She spent Christmas at home in Romania, in order to return to her “principessa” and forget about her life in Vienna – at least for a few days.…(Vienna Review).
I was sent to Vienna with my faith and trust in God, to become a friend, to give love and peace, to give light, simply by being open and available, by living my faith in the midst of it all. Sometimes the "all" entails things I cannot live directly in the midst of physically, but only by being united to the reality in prayer, bringing those hearts that I don't personally known, laying them before the Eucharist alongside my own. I do not understand their situations or their pain (not only those of the working men and women, but also their customers). They are there and you can go to the street and try to talk to them, as the two women did for the Vienna Review article, but I don't want to just talk to them once to satiate curiosity or gain information, I want to offer them friendship, offer them someone genuinely interested in their well-being. In taking their time, you keep them from earning the money for which they have become trapped in this lifestyle in the first place, so how on earth do you form a friendship in the first place? I know sometimes I will be called to things outside of my comfort zone, merely because I ask for the grace to die to myself in order to live as Christ directs me, but never would I want to offend or cause discomfort to those already so pained and miserable. I don't understand their way of life, their languages, their needs, their sufferings--but my heart is so filled with compassion even glimpsing into their misery.
I was sent to Vienna not to start my own "save the world" projects or to fix every sad thing in the place which I now call home. I can't do these things. But I can entrust these realities and individuals I come across to God. Only He knows why he made this so present in our lives in Vienna--whether it be to lead us to somehow reach out with a loving and friendly hand to them, or merely (and just as important) bring them to prayer everyday with us.
I ask you to join me in praying for all those who suffer both exteriorly by the cold, defilement, abuse, and inwardly by the lascivious looks and gestures robbing them of their dignity and respect deserved, by the lack of true care, love, and affection, by the lack of freedom.
"People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, redeemed; never throw out anyone."-Audrey Hepburn
They are treated as things that with a price must deliver pleasure on demand, being coerced into this life or submitting themselves to this life merely for the sake of acquiring the means necessary to provide for themselves, their families, their survival. I want them to be treated as persons, loved and cared for...restored, renewed, revived, reclaiming their own dignity, their own ability to be treated with love and respect and not face not being able to care for themselves or their families. Of course, the redeeming is up to God. I can only love, and desire to give more love however God wants me to.
St. Mary Magdelene,
who, reviled by all others at table,
with tears to fall and cleanse
humbly sought true love and worth
at the feet of Love, Himself;
who, beside the Mother Immaculate,
with tears to replace screams
clung to Love's bleeding feet
as He died to show His love, her worth,
pray for us.
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