The Catholic Church states strongly that violence is never justified; violence is sinful, and every person is encouraged to build safe, healthy relationships. Yet, the statistics are staggering:
● 1 in 3 women and 1 in 7 men experience violence by their partners in their lifetimes.
● 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men are sexually abused before the age of 18.
● 1 in 5 women and 1 in 16 men are sexually assaulted while they are college students.
● 2 in 3 acts of sexual assault involving college students are by repeat abusers.
● There are more than 21,000 phone calls placed to domestic violence hotlines in the U.S a day.
We can help overcome this paralysis by:
● Becoming educated – read articles informing you as to what constitutes domestic violence.
● Supporting domestic violence organizations – through donating or volunteering.
● Reaching Out – if someone else is experiencing abuse, steer them to the right sources.
● Praying – for victims, abusers, and peaceful resolutions to partner conflict.
● Examining our own attitudes toward relationships – ask ourselves how we can do better.
Domestic violence can happen to persons of either gender, any race, age, sexual orientation, religion, educational level, or financial status. Reasons for abuse to others are complex, but abuse is not acceptable in our Church or our society.
If you or someone you know is being abused, seek help. In an emergency, please dial 911. For all other help, please call: Illinois Statewide Domestic Violence Helpline 877 TO END DV (877-863-6338), 877-863-6339 TTY or call WINGS 24-hour hotline
847-221-5680