Introduction
The
US Catholic Bishops have called on the Christian community to work vigorously
against domestic violence. There is a real need for this in the State of Alaska
where we have the highest rate of domestic violence in the nation.
The
Catholic Church teaches that violence against another person in any form fails
to treat that person as someone worthy of love. Instead, it treats the person
as an object to be used. While violence can be directed towards men, it tends
to harm women and children more. 85% of the victims of reported cases of non-lethal
domestic violence are women. Women's greatest risk of violence comes from intimate
partners--a current or former husband or boyfriend.
When violence
occurs within a sacramental marriage, the abused spouse may question, "How
do these violent acts relate to my promise to take my spouse for better or for
worse?" The person being assaulted needs to know that acting to end the abuse
does not violate the marriage promises.
Violence against women
in the home has serious repercussions for children. Over 50% of men who abuse
their wives also beat their children. Children who grow up in violent homes are
more likely to develop alcohol and drug addictions and to become abusers themselves.
This sets the stage for a cycle of violence that may continue from generation
to generation.
The Church can help break this cycle. The Church
needs to be a safe place where abused women can some for help form any of us.
For even if their abusers isolate them from other social contacts, they may still
allow them to go to church. All of us then have a responsibility to learn more
about domestic violence and to help those who are victims of violence to break
out of their pain and isolation. The resources here can help both raise your awareness
about domestic violence, help you know how to respond if you are being abused,
and help you to respond to someone you know who is in a domestic violence situation.
