Mercy holds open forum for domestic violence awareness

By KENNY KEANE, Globe staff reporter
Posted May 22, 2003

The Community Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV), part of the Council on Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence (CSADV), invited members of the media to a reception on May 6 at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City.

This open forum offered an opportunity to gather information about the coalition's efforts to end violence in the Siouxland community, as well as hear from individuals who are involved in and have been affected by domestic violence.

Judge Pat McCormick, who has many years of experience hearing domestic violence cases, was the keynote speaker. He started practicing law in Sioux City in 1966, and he said back then the words domestic assault did not appear in any legal or common jargon in the community.

He recalled one instance in particular back in the early '80s when a police report came across his desk about a husband who had been picked up for committing a crime.

"It came to my attention that what had occurred prior to the arrest for some other crime - perhaps it was an OWI - is that he had beat up his wife quite severely and put her in the hospital," McCormick said. "So I called the chief, and I said, 'I don't understand why we don't have a request for charges against this gentleman - if you want to call him that - for an assault because he really hurt his wife.' He said, 'Well, we just do not ever ask for any charges in a situation where there's a husband and wife involved because that's a family situation, and we don't get involved in family situations.'

"I'm ashamed of the fact that I didn't go ahead and do what I thought was right in that case, and that was to file charges against the husband for an assault at that time."

Following the keynote address, Cathy, a survivor of domestic abuse, spoke of her experience.

"The abuse I suffered was verbal, emotional, physical and certainly mental," she said. "The abuse didn't appear to start right away. It was subtle, and he was skillful.

"Over time the physical violence started. After I was hit, I remember feeling just shock and numbness, but he became so attentive and so loving as though he hated what he did, too. I didn't realize then that this was part of the cycle of behavior that abusers use to keep their victims confused and controlled."

After seeking help from what she called some "unfortunately uninformed professionals" about this problem, she spoke with a therapist who finally named the problem.

"He called it domestic abuse, and he called me a victim," Cathy said. "That therapist suggested that I begin to consider calling the police, and several incidences later I did just that. For me, that began my process of empowerment.

"That officer gave me a card, and he said, 'There are people you can talk to. They can help you.' I called, and I met with a victim advocate from the Council on Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence. My life really began to change from that moment."

The director of Mercy's Child Advocacy Center, Martha Burchard, said educating people and showing support for organizations such as the CSADV are important steps to help end domestic violence.

"Our biggest thing is that we continue to interact with community agencies that deal with children and family issues, including the CSADV," she said. "Through the domestic violence coalition, our goal is to help educate people on the need to be aware and to do whatever they can do in whatever arena about the problem of domestic violence."