Domestic
Violence
A Position Paper of the Florida Catholic Conference
"Respect
for human life is the starting point for confronting a culture of
violence..." Confronting a Culture of Violence: A Catholic Framework for
Action, 1994,
Catholic Bishops of the United States
Violence against any person in
any form whether it be physical, verbal, sexual or psychological is never
justified or acceptable. In particular, violence towards women by those
who use calculated, coercive behavior to keep power and control are
committing a violent act.
The Catholic Church continues its effort to combat domestic violence
and offers its resources to families. Violence against women, men,
children, the elderly or the unborn is contrary to Jesus' gospel message
to "love one another as I have loved you." In the cases of violence
against women, the Church offers help to the women who are battered and
the men who abuse. Both groups need Jesus' strength and healing.
Violence against women in the home has particularly serious repercussions,
when the woman is a mother and the violence takes place in front of her
children, the stage is set for a cycle of violence that may be continued
from generation to generation. Men who abuse women reflect the lack of
understanding in our society about how men and women ought to relate to
each other. They violate the basic values of justice, equality, respect,
dignity, and peace. They go against the call to practical kindness,
gentleness, faithfulness, mutual support and to love one another as
ourselves. Violence, whether committed against family members or
strangers is contrary to Judeo-Christian messages of love and respect for
the human person.
The Bishops call on the Christian community to join forces with and
complement the work of those associations and groups that are already
involved in preventing and fighting family violence. Toward a response to
domestic violence, the Catholic Church teaches through Scripture that the
theme beginning in Genesis is that women and men are created in God's
image. As Pope John Paul II has said, "Both man and woman are human
beings to an equal degree." Jesus unfailingly respected the human dignity
of women. Pope John Paul II reminds us that "Christ's way of acting, the
Gospel of his words and deeds, is a consistent protest against whatever
offends the dignity of women."
One of the most troublesome aspects of the abuse practiced against
women for our church is the use of biblical texts taken out of context, to
support abusive behavior. Counselors report that both abused women and
their batterers use Scripture passages to justify their behavior. A
correct reading of the Scriptures leads people to a relationship based on
mutuality and love: "In the ‘unity of the two', man and woman are called
from the beginning not only to exist ‘side by side' or ‘together,' but
also called to exist mutually one for the other."
During the 2000 fiscal year, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement
reported over 124,629 domestic violence crimes, including murder,
manslaughter, forcible rape, forcible sodomy, forcible fondling,
aggravated assault, aggravated stalking, simple assault, simple stalking,
threat/intimidation and arson.
Florida, through the Governor's Task Force on Domestic Violence and
various legislation, has taken important steps forward by developing and
implementing statewide policies and laws to protect victims of domestic
violence crimes and to hold those responsible for those crimes
accountable. As Florida forges ahead and continues its battle against
domestic violence, we would like to propose the following recommendations:
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Additional
shelters should be made available to protect the victims of domestic
violence throughout the state, especially in rural communities.
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Continued
support for education and training for law enforcement agencies and
offices to recognize the importance of enforcing the policies regarding
domestic violence cases.
-
Centers should
receive support and funding to expand their services for children of
victims of domestic violence, including community outreach into schools.
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All hospitals
throughout the state should consider implementing domestic violence
protocols
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State Attorneys
should aggressively prosecute domestic violence cases.
Community
advocacy and legislative networks can provide a forum for prevention and
education concerning domestic violence. The Catholic Church is dedicated
to encouraging all that nurtures and strengthens family life. We are
committed to building on the existing efforts and the strengths of our
communities: the work of churches, schools, Catholic Charities and other
community efforts to offer counseling, safe shelter, and assistance to
families. We will make every effort to hold major institutions
accountable, including government, the media and the criminal justice
system. We are advocates for efforts to attack root causes of crime and
violence including poverty, substance abuse, lack of opportunity, racism
and family disintegration. We will promote personal responsibility and
broader social responsibility in our policies and programs. We promote
solidarity across racial and economic lines and pursue economic justice,
especially employment. We will work for legislation that promotes
education, research and training in nonviolence. We are committed to
responding to victims of violence and strengthening families by putting
the needs of children and families first in our local, state, and national
priorities.
"People can become peacemakers in their homes and communities . . . . We
can work for public policies that confront violence, build community and
promote responsibility." (Confronting a Culture of Violence: A Catholic
Framework for Action. Catholic Bishops of the United States,
1994.)
