October marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
September 30, 2004

The month of October is not only Respect Life Month but also Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Bev Hurni, director of the office of Adult and Family Ministries for the Diocese of Sioux City and Marilyn Murphy, the social concerns facilitator for the diocese, have collaborated for the fifth year in a row to provide a mailing to the priests and pastoral ministers of the diocese about domestic violence.

The mailing highlighted three things for its recipients. The first was the revised 10th anniversary edition of the bishop's pastoral statement on domestic violence, "When I Call for Help," a pastoral response to domestic violence against women. The second topic of the mailing was about a workshop opportunity for ordained and lay ministers. The final highlight was recent statistics of domestic violence, especially as they relate to children.

The revised pastoral statement includes a new section of guidance addressed to church ministers as first responders to domestic violence and an updated discussion of how religion can be a resource or a roadblock for abused women.

According to the "When I Call for Help" statement, the first responders should "listen to and believe the victim's story, help her to assess the danger to herself and her children and refer her to counseling and other specialized services."

The statement also gives specific suggestions about how pastors and pastoral staff can make their parish a safe place where abused women and abusive men can go for help.

"The statement has a new section with guidance for church ministers as first responders to domestic violence," said Hurni. "We helped distribute that through this mailing, and also how religion can either be a resource or a roadblock. We are hoping that this mailing helps it to be a resource."

Also included in the mailing are exerpts from the statement that can be used as announcements in a parish bulletin to help parishes become more educated about what the anniversary edition has to say.

The workshop, "Domestic Violence and Faith: A Conference for Leaders from All Faiths," will be presented by Al Mines from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 1 at Briar Cliff University.

"We encourage both clergy and lay ministers to attend this conference for leaders of all faiths," said Hurni.

Other events planned during Domestic Violence Awareness Month are a candlelight vigil at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 11 at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City and Health Cares About Domestic Violence Awareness Day on Oct. 13.

The statistics included were compiled by the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence from the Iowa Attorney Generals office and the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

In the fiscal year 2002, 2,262 women and 2,484 children sought refuge in Iowa's domestic violence shelters and 16 male victims also received shelter.

The Iowa Judicial Department reports that the number of domestic abuse civil filings rose from 188 in 1990 to 5,907 in 2001.

"The numbers are staggering, when I look at them about how many people in this day and age are still experiencing violence," said Hurni.

The feelings, behaviors and physical clues that are characteristic as a result of a child being abused are also listed as part of the mailing.

"I think it isn't just the impact on women, I am seeing more and more information is beginning to emerge about the impact this has on children who grow up in violent homes and who see this happening to their mothers," said Murphy. "The trauma of seeing that and observing that has a tremendous impact on the way children behave later on in life."

The priests and pastoral ministers were invited to make copies of the mailing for parishioner leaders or to print certain materials in their bulletin to provide information for their parishioners.

Another way that the diocese makes an effort to address the domestic violence issue is through the marriage preparation program.

"We say to couples that if violence - physical, emotional or psychological - is part of the relationship, it is time to put that marriage on hold and get this issue dealt with before they go further. People's lives are at stake," said Hurni.

Women or children experiencing domestic violence can contact the Iowa Domestic Abuse Hotline at (800) 942-0333 or Catholic Charities at (712) 252-4547 for help.