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LONDON, ENGLAND, December 18, 2001: Vicars and priests usually turn the other cheek and forgive wrongdoers. But so many members of the clergy are being attacked in Britain that they are now being taught taekwondo to defend themselves. Taekwondo is a Korean martial arts system. The term literally means “the art of kicking and punching.” Britain’s priests and vicars, including women, are being offered time off from religious duties to take special lessons in taekwondo. Even bishops can join the self-defense classes if they want to. They will be taught how to physically disable attackers, even those armed with knives. Surveys have shown that church ministers are more likely to be attacked than prison guards, probation officers, social workers, doctors or teachers. Seven out of 10 clergy members have experienced some sort of violence, the University of London’s Royal Holloway College has found. Many of the assailants have been beggars, homeless people, drug users and people suffering from psychiatric problems. But some have been supposedly respectable parishioners who have been refused a preferred wedding date or who angrily disagreed with a clergyman’s sermon.

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