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October 25, 2008
Respect Life
Domestic Violence
Over 50% of men who abuse their wives also beat their children
Children who grow up in violent homes are more likely to be abusers themselves.
Women ages 16-24 are nearly three times as vulnerable to attacks by intimate partners as those in other age groups.
Abuse victims between ages 35-49 run the highest risk of being killed.
74% of all Texans indicate they, a family member/friend have experienced some form of domestic violence.
Domestic violence is learned behavior; their behavior gives them power and control over their partner.
Abusive men come from all economic classes, races, religions, and occupations.
Abusive men have some common characteristics: extremely jealous, possessive and easily angered. They try and isolate their partners by limiting their contact with family and friends.
Many abusive men hold a view of women as inferior, and believe they are meant to dominate and control women.
Women often stay with men who abuse them out of fear; many believe that they cannot support themselves or their children.
Women are ashamed to admit that the man they love is abusing them; they can’t admit that they are a battered woman.
“When I call for Help”
A Statement from The
As pastors of the Catholic Church in The United States, we state as clearly and strongly as we can that violence against women, inside or outside the home, is never justified. Violence in any form –”physical, sexual, psychological, or verbal” - is sinful; often it is a crime as well. We have called on a moral revolution to replace a culture of violence.
The Catholic Church teaches:
Violence against another person fails to treat that person as someone worthy of love. Instead it treats the person as an object to be used.
The person being assaulted needs to know that acting to end the abuse does not violate the marriage promises.
As Bishops, we condemn the use of the Bible to support abusive behavior in any form.
Correct reading of Scripture insures the equal dignity of men and women and to relationships based on mutuality and love.
No person is expected to stay in an abusive marriage. Seeking an annulment can open the door to healing.
Violence and abuse, not divorce, break up a marriage.
Prayer:
We believe in the goodness and value of women, as Christ did throughout His Life; We rejoice in their strength and compassion. We look forward to the future in faith and hope, praying and working for the day when all God’s children are truly respected and free to develop and use all their gifts and to share in all the benefits of human life and work. We look forward to an age of peace when violence in all its forms is ended and men, women and children live in true peace. (Education for Justice)
Hope
Batterers Treatment Program: 512-478-1648