Tuesday Conference

Theology e-weekly

To make humanity united in worshipping God

End Violence
Against Women

Our Heavenly Patron

Dear Father,
There has been an awful silence in male culture about this
ongoing tragedy of mens violence against women and children.
We need to break the silence and we need more to do that.
Tuesday Conference w ith th is intention br ings its

25th issue When I call for help: End violence against

women. This issue comes commemorating the UN Day of Nov.
25 to end violence against women. The first part of the article
speaks about the violence, UN Day and the second part is a
catholic response taken from US bishops pastoral letter.
We must not only help prevent violence; we must also work
to provide women with access to economic opportunities, equal
participation in public life, repeal laws and practices that continue
to discriminate against them and ensure that homes, offices,
streets and schools are safe for women and girls.

The abuse of woman and girls is the most

pervasive and unaddressed human right
violation on earth
- Jimmy Carter

Page - 02

Religion can be either a resource or a roadblock for

battered women. As a resource, it encourages women to
resist mistreatment.

Introduction

It is by

standing
up for the
rights of
girls and
women
that we
truly
measure
up as men.
Arch Bp
Desmond

Tutu

The UN defines violence

against women as "any act of
gender-based violence that
results in, physical, sexual or
mental harm or suffering to
women, including threats of
such acts, coercion or
arbitrary
deprivation
of
liberty, whether occurring in
public or in private life."
Violence against women is arguably the most widespread
human rights violation of our time. A violation that claims
millions of victims every year and causes terrible physical and
emotional pain. The violence knows no geographical, cultural,
social, economic or educational boundaries.
Gender-based violence is far more complex than any
"battle of the sexes" or "war on women." It afflicts a human
community fearful of its own daughters, of the power in our
flesh and the gift of a woman's intellect, spirit, and voice.

Without doubt, the

plague of gender-based
violence threatens us all.
We
each
hold
the
challenge and possibility
of a new chapter in our
human story. So too does
our church.

Christ's way of acting, the Gospel of his words and deeds, is a

consistent protest against whatever offends the dignity of women.
-Pope John Paul II

International Day for the Elimination of

Violence against Women

Page - 03

1. Recognizes violence against women as a manifestation of historically unequal

power relation between men and women.
2. Recognizes human rights of women are an inalienable, integral and indivisible
part of universal human rights.
3. Alarmed that women do not fully enjoy human rights and freedom and
concerned about the long-standing failure to protect and promote those rights
and freedoms in relation to violence against women.

It takes four generations to recover from

every act of violence. - Rebecca Adamson

Why This International Day?

Violence against women is a human rights violation.
It is a consequence of discrimination against women, and of persisting

inequalities between men and women.

It hinders progress in poverty eradication, combating HIV/AIDS, and peace and
security.
Violence against women and girls is not inevitable. Prevention is possible and
essential.
Violence against women continues to be a global pandemic.

Let us start a movement - a movement of men who

are not afraid to stop violence against women.

History of the Day

Page - 04

It originally marked the day that the three Mirabal sisters, Patria, Minerva,
and Maria Teresa from the Dominican Republic were violently assassinated in 1960
during the Trujillo dictatorship (Rafael Trujillo 1930-1961). The day was used to
pay tribute to the Mirabal sisters, as well as global recognition of gender violence.
The Unforgettable Butterflies have become a symbol against victimization of
women.
From 25 Nov, to 10 Dec, Human Rights Day, the 16 Days of Activism against
Gender-Based Violence Campaign is a time to galvanize action to end violence
against women and girls around the world.
Never doubt that a
small group of
thoughtful
committed citizens
can change the
world. Indeed , it is
the only thing ever
has.
The UNiTE campaign proclaims every 25th
of the month as Orange Day, aiming to raise
awareness about the issue of violence against
women and girls, not only once a year on 25
November but every month! The campaign also
launched the ribbon as a symbol for preventing
and ending violence against women and girls.
Women between the ages of 15-44 are more at
risk from violence than from cancer and malaria.

Do you know what

this ribbon
represents?

Domestic violence, has no place in a healthy

relationship, whether the couple is dating, engaged,
married or cohabiting. Dare to listen to the stifled
cries, to the stories of violence, silent in families,
churches and schools. It is not enough just to treat
women well. We have to work to make sure
all men treat women well.

Page - 05

A Pastoral Response To Domestic

Violence Against Women

As pastors of the Catholic Church we state

as clearly and strongly as we can that violence against
women, inside or outside the home, is never justified.
Violence in any form is sinful; often, it is a
crime as well. W e have called for a m or al
revolution to replace a culture of violence.

The Catholic Church teaches that violence

against another person in any form fails to treat that
person as someone worthy of love. Instead, it
treats the person as an object to be used.
As bishops, we condemn the use of the Bible to support abusive behavior in
any form. A correct reading of Scripture leads people to an understanding of the
equal dignity of men and women and to relationships based on mutuality and
love. Men who abuse often use Ephesians 5:22, taken out of context, to justify
their behavior, Men who batter also cite Scripture to insist that their victims
forgive them (see, for example, Mt 6:9-15).
A victim then feels guilty if she cannot do so. Forgiveness, does not mean
forgetting the abuse or pretending that it did not happen. Forgiveness is not
permission to repeat the abuse. Rath er , for giveness m eans th at th e
victim decides to let go of the experience and move on with greater insight and
conviction not to tolerate abuse of any kind again.
No person is expected to stay in an
abusive marriage. Som e believe our
teaching on marriage requires them to stay in an
abusive relationship. They may hesitate to seek a
divorce. They may fear that they cannot re-marry in
the Church. Violence and abuse, not divorce, break
up a marriage. W e encour age abused
persons who have divorced to investigate the
possibility of seeking an annulment.
An annulment, which determines that the marriage bond is not
valid, can frequently open the door to healing.

Page - 06

We
encourage
church
ministers to:
Listen to and believe the victim's
story

Help her to assess the danger to

herself and her children

Refer her to counseling and other

specialized services.

Keep in mind three goals:

Safety for the victim and children
Accountability for the abuser
Restoration of the relationship (if
possible), or mourning over the
loss of the relationship.

Use liturgies to draw attention to violence and abuse

In homilies, include a reference to domestic violence when appropriate.
In parish reconciliation services, identify violence against women as a sin.
Include intercessions for victims of abuse, people who abuse people, and those
who work with them.

If you suspect abuse, ask direct questions. Ask the woman if she is being hit or
hurt at home. Some women do not realize they are being abused, or they lie to
protect their spouses. Be careful not to say anything that will bolster her belief
that it is her fault and that she must change her behavior.

Have an action plan in place to follow if an abused woman calls on you for help.
Establish contact with local shelters and domestic violence agencies.

Include a discussion of domestic violence in marriage preparation sessions.

Page - 07

Concluding Remarks

The Catholic community bears a unique,

sacred responsibility for denouncing the
sins of violence and sexism. It is r ooted in
Jesus' liberating witness and the prophetic
demands of Christian discipleship. We are called
to the forefront of the human struggle for freedom,
a struggle epitomized in the suffering of women.
In confronting gender-based violence, our efforts must begin with an
eradication of its presence in our church itself. However, our church suffers from an
institutionalized silence and inaction that enables, even condones, violence
against women. We must dare to ask the tough questions.
Does our fear of the feminine face of God devalue God's beauty in the women and
girls we love most? In what ways does this devaluation appear in our families,
parishes, schools and ecclesial structures?
As a congregation/province/parish do we really have a programme for
womens rights? Do we really make sure that all women come to us go
dignified?
Although it is a symbol of
life, the female body is

unfortunately not rarely

attacked and disfigured,

The many forms of slavery, the

commercialization, and mutilation of the
bodies of women, call out to us to be
committed to defeat these types of

even by those who should be its

protector and life companion.

degradation that reduce them to

mere objects that are bought and
sold ...

more
capillary and incisive female
presence throughout the Church,
I

adding

want

to

see

that women should be

given
more
pastoral
responsibilities in parishes and
dioceses and that there should be
more women theologians.
Published from Vincentian Vidyabhavan, Aluva.