"All men are rapists" was the cry of some feminists a few years ago. There was a huge backlash of indignation from men and women. Its only a 'small minority that rape' we said.

In New Zealand we have just had three men (1 a current serving senior police officer and 2 former police officers) cleared of rape allegations in two different trials with 2 different women as the victims. It has now transpired that 2 of the men are currently serving time in prison for a rape they were convicted of that was not allowed to be bought out in the trial.

This has got me thinking about the whole issue.....not so much as to whether they were innocent or guilty.....but what does it say about us? There is no doubt that men have been sexually using women, whether it meets the legal definition or not, for centuries....maybe for all all time. It is also true that the system seems stacked against women coming forward and getting a conviction, and that so much sexual behaviour by men is abusing their power and the vulnerabilities of the victims (or perhaps we should call them survivors as they are hero's for surviving). So often what men do they brag about and other men laugh and joke about it.

The only conclusion is that the feminists are partly right as long as we see manhood including the right to use women for our sexual gratification and allowing this to continue. I do hold hope though as in Jesus we see a man who was different. He did not see women as most men did and still do and took stands that showed the value women have without needing to sexually exploit them!