Clergy can help end domestic violence
By SARAKAY SMULLENS and Ana Lisa Yoder

Published October 25, 2005 in the Philadelphia Inquirer

October is domestic violence awareness month, a time to remember those who have died as a result of domestic violence, and to bring renewed awareness of the urgency of full community involvement in combating this epidemic.

Domestic violence is ugly, complicated and dangerous, and each gender can and does abuse. Most of the time, however, it is women and children who are battered and die. According to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence Fatality Report, 110 people were murdered in acts of domestic violence in 2004 in Pennsylvania. These numbers don't account for the myriad women and children whose deaths never made the news.

Philadelphia has a number of committed domestic violence programs, community agencies, and individuals working to end domestic violence. Thanks to this strong advocacy, in the last several years the Philadelphia Police Department has increased the priority level of domestic violence-related emergency calls, begun tracking domestic violence-related offenses more deliberately, and has created a new policy to address stalking. On Sept. 30, 2005, with the support of Mayor Street, separate domestic violence hotlines operated by the four agencies connected to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (Women Against Abuse, Lutheran Settlement House, El Congreso de Latinos Unidos, and Women in Transition) formed one united Philadelphia Domestic Violence Hotline, with a new toll-free number (1-866-SAFE-014).

Still, it is abundantly clear that to eradicate threats of domestic violence, community agencies cannot work alone. People from all walks of life must be aware and involved. In 2003, the Philadelphia Police Department reported 115,000 domestic violence related calls. As noted by the Philadelphia Women's Death Review Team, most women who die as a result of domestic violence never have contact with a community or public institution. However, they often turn to their ministers, priests, rabbis, imams, or other religious leaders for direction and counsel.

To address this challenge in 1994, the Philadelphia Sabbath of Domestic Peace coalition was formed. The Sabbath of Domestic Peace is a volunteer effort with representation from diverse cultural, religious, and professional backgrounds. We believe that the involvement of clergy in addressing domestic violence is crucial and must be strengthened. Our goal is to increase awareness about the pervasiveness of domestic violence in every faith tradition and to address areas that reflect prejudice and misinformation.

Specifically, in many communities the lethal belief exists that a woman provokes or deserves violence; the invisible malignancy of emotional abuse is unrecognized; and the erroneous idea persists that working with couples is a legitimate and safe way to address violence in a relationship. Our coalition's grassroots efforts have been sustained by the Phoebe Valentine Foundation. Like Ernesta Ballard, Phoebe's courageous and insightful life's work has provided hope and opportunity for society's most vulnerable families.

We ask that this month and every month, religious leaders unequivocally condemn emotional, physical and sexual abuse in their houses of worship and faith communities. There is no better way to honor the lives of the victims of domestic violence, in Pennsylvania and everywhere, than to speak out and prevent other such senseless deaths.