Hundreds of men gather in town squares across Croatia every month to kneel and pray for the modesty of women, the bolstering of patriarchal authority and a ban on abortions. The rise of the conservative Catholic men's group leading the vigils, known as "Be Manly", has attracted a small but dedicated following in the Balkan country, where the church carries significant sway and traditional values are widespread. But the views of the group - often referred to as "the kneelers" - which include calls for women to dress modestly, protests against premarital sex and demands for an absolute abortion ban, have triggered a backlash. Video: AFP The gatherings have been held on the first Saturday of every month throughout Croatia since October. Around 100 men gathered to pray during a rally in the capital Zagreb in April - with many clutching rosaries, holding posters of the Virgin Mary and waving the Croatian flag. "Women should make sure they do not cause men to sin with their behaviour and clothing," Bozidar Nagy, a priest who supports the movement and has led a rally in Zagreb, told a broadcaster earlier this year. Nagy went on to cite a 20th-century Croatian theologian, saying...
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