WORLD BULLETIN

Pontiff decries chauvinistic attitudes toward women
POPE BENEDICT XVI has decried chauvinism and the "serious and relentless" exploitation, discrimination and violence being waged against the world's women.
"There are places and cultures where women are discriminated against or undervalued just for the fact that they are women,he told participants attending a Vatican-sponsored international congress.
The Pope said that discrimination can be the result of "religious arguments and family, social and cultural pressures" aimed at supporting "the disparity of the sexes".
He criticised the persistent "chauvinistic mentality" that "ignores the novelty of Christianity which recognises and proclaims the equal dignity and responsibility of women with respect to men".
He also criticised societies which exploited women.