Diocese helps in effort to raise awareness about domestic violence

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
Sept. 28, 2006

Every year thousands of women and children in Iowa seek shelter because of abusive relationships in their homes.

For several years now each October, which is designated as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Diocese of Sioux City has helped in the effort to raise awareness about this problem.

The Office of Adult and Family Ministries in collaboration with the social concerns office of Catholic Charities will soon send out information to all pastors with the hopes that they would make it accessible to parishioners.

"We provide information such as a list of the domestic violence crisis centers, bulletin inserts and Iowa statistics on domestic violence," noted Vera Ludwig, diocesan family programs director.

Marilyn Murphy, diocesan social concerns facilitator, suggested that emergency numbers be placed in the women's bathrooms at church.

"We suggest to pastors that they put them in places where women would be able to see them without fear of being noticed or observed," she said. "They have a sheet with tear-off tabs that has the number of the domestic abuse hotline."

Particularly in rural areas, Murphy noted, abused women can become isolated and have difficulty reaching help. Part of it is location and part of it is the attitude that this is a family problem where you don't talk about it, you just survive it.

"The diocesan church has been such an advocate not only for educating our parishioners but for assisting the programs that exist in the diocese that serve victims," she said. "Several links have been established between parishes and shelters, for example."

Statistics from 2002 showed 2,262 women, 2,484 children and 16 men sought refuge in Iowa's domestic violence shelters.

"Abuse takes place on all economic levels and in all racial backgrounds. It is not discriminatory," said Ludwig.

Church efforts to raise awareness about this issue have not been limited to this diocese. In 1992, the U.S. bishops wrote a pastoral letter titled Love Shouldn't Hurt that focused on domestic violence. The Diocese of Sioux City, in response to the bishops' letter produced a video, "Love Shouldn't Hurt" a few year's later.

According to Murphy more than 1,000 copies of that video were purchased and distributed throughout the country. The video continues to be used today for such things as marriage preparation and for raising awareness in women's groups.

"Society as a rule has been trying to break the cycle of domestic violence throughout history. This is nothing new, but when the U.S. bishops came out with their statement in 1992 that gave added impetus and energized our diocese in terms of looking at this problem and attempting to do something about it in partnership with other organizations that had been working on it for years," noted Murphy.

In the last 15-20 years, she added, numerous offices in the chancery and other diocesan groups such as the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, Association of Women Religious, Women's Commission and The Globe have collaborated to raise awareness about the issue. Through the years Murphy said they have invested time and energy into addressing this issue and believes the work will continue.

"It is important to continue to educate the faithful so that if they see someone in that situation - they can help them seek the help they need or if they are personally in that situation they will know help is available," said Ludwig.

Along with posting the information in the parishes, some women's groups in the parishes may wish to purchase the video, Love Shouldn't Hurt, or obtain the video from the diocesan media center so that they can host an educational session about domestic violence.

"As followers of Christ, we all need to be conscious of ways we can help our brothers and sisters. This is one of those ways," she said. "While it is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, it is also Respect Life Month. I see those two going hand in hand."

Along with Sioux City - (800) 982-7233 or (712) 258-7233, there are domestic violence outreach centers in other communities of the diocese such as Carroll - (800) 383-9744 or (712) 792-6722; Fort Dodge - (888) 356-2006 or (515) 573-8000; Sioux Center - (712) 722-4404 or (800) 382-5603; and Spencer - (877) 362-4612 or (712) 262-4612. The listed toll-free numbers are 24-hour crisis hotlines. There are also some Web sites where people may obtain information: www.cpsdv.org; www.ndvh.org and www.ncadv.org.