

For more information about safety planning go to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. This includes hiding a car key, personal documents, and some money in a safe place and locating somewhere to go in an emergency. If you choose to stay in the situation, set up a plan of action to ensure your safety.Talk in confidence to someone you trust: a relative, friend, pastor or family doctor.Help is available for you and your children. Violence in any form- physical, sexual, psychological, or verbal is sinful often it is a crime as well.” ( When I Call for Help: A Pastoral Response to Domestic Violence Against Women) Catholic Bishops have made clear that “violence against women, inside or outside the home, is never justified. What the Catholic Church teaches about domestic violence An abusive man who drinks or uses drugs has two different problems: substance abuse and violence. They may blame their partner for the abuse, saying, “You made me do this.”Īlcohol and drugs are often associated with domestic violence but they do not cause it. Typically, abusive men deny that the abuse is happening or they minimize it. They believe that men are meant to dominate and control women. Many abusive men believe that women are inferior. They tend to be jealous, possessive and easily angered. Abusive men often share some common characteristics. They may be successful in their career and respected in their church and community. Abused women often feel that they are alone, and have no where to turn for help.Ībusive men come from all walks of life. They may feel cut off from social support and resources. Others feel pressured to stay in the relationship.

Some cannot admit that they are abused women. They think that they can stop the abuse if they just act differently. Some abused women believe that the abuse is their fault. Many believe that they cannot make it on their own. Some fear that they will lose their children. They are afraid that the abuser will become more violent if they try to leave. Women often stay with their abusers because of fear. Nearly half live in households with children.More likely to be dating or cohabiting than married.Female, although men can also experience domestic violence.According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline statistics, approximately 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men over the age of 18 have been the victim of physical domestic violence, and almost 50% of both sexes have experienced some form of domestic psychological aggression. Psychological – Includes a wide range of behaviors such as intimidation, isolating the victim from friends and family, controlling where the victim goes, making the victim feel guilty or crazy, and making unreasonable demandsĮmotional – Undermining an individual’s self-esteem, constant criticism, insults, put-downs, and name-callingĮconomic – Examples include limiting the victim’s access to family income, preventing the victim from working or forcing the victim to work, destroying the victim’s property, and making all the financial decisionsīoth women and men can be victims of domestic abuse. Sexual – Includes any sexual acts that are forced on one partner by the other In many cases physical abuse becomes more frequent and severe over time. Physical – Violent actions such as hitting, beating, pushing, and kicking. Domestic violence can take various forms: The two key elements are threat and control. Domestic violence, however, has no place in a healthy relationship, whether the couple is dating, cohabiting, engaged, or married.ĭomestic violence is any kind of behavior that a person uses, or threatens to use, to control an intimate partner. What’s the difference between normal conflict and domestic violence? Conflict is part of every intimate relationship–that’s why conflict resolution skills are important.
