DATE: 23 MAY 2013
VENUE: ST. PAUL’S PASTORAL CENTRE, BETTER HOPE, GUYANA
We. the AEC Episcopal Members of the AEC Justice and Peace Commission and Diocesan representatives of Justice and Peace groups from all across the AEC region, gathered in Georgetown, Guyana on Thursday 23 May, 2013, to discuss our response to the painful realities of Domestic Violence within our communities.
Domestic violence is the exact opposite of what the Catholic Church believes. At the very heart of Catholic Social Teaching is the dignity of the human person because we are created in the image and likeness of God (Gen.1). We are called to promote the sanctity of life, the dignity of the human person and integral human development – that is, the development of every dimension of a person and of each person.
Domestic Violence is against God’s plan for us, His children. It is defined as a pattern of aggressive and abusive behaviour by one partner against another in an intimate relationship. It is viewed as a form of control and intimidation exercised by the perpetrator which instils fear in the victim. Survivors and perpetrators of domestic abuse may be anyone and may come from any age, educational, ethnic or religious group.
Bishop Francis Alleyne, OSB, of the Diocese of Georgetown, Guyana, said: “Domestic violence is at no time acceptable or justified. It is an ill, an evil that must be addressed and dispelled. If we are to look at the Passion of Jesus, what our scripture clearly says to us is that we are to believe in life and the fullness of life and claim it over and above all the elements of evil and death. The sufferings of Christ speak clearly to us that we cannot compromise our worth…”
As far back as 1975, AEC bishops denounced the exploitation of women:
“There is all too much evidence that, in many of our Caribbean societies, young girls and women are still being exploited in a shameful manner not only in conditions of employment but sometimes in terms demanded to obtain or retain it. As long as such practices persist among us we have no right to speak of the achievement of women’s liberation.” Art 47. AEC Pastoral Letter, Justice and Peace in a New Caribbean.
In 2003, in identifying some of the conditions in our Caribbean region which contribute to violence the AEC bishops noted:
“Children who have learned violent patterns of behaviour (through violent treatment) will express that violence if the situation encourages or rewards it. So, along with the social conditions listed above, early education and experience in the family is also extremely important. And the two are not unrelated. The violent behaviour children experience or witness in the home, at school, in the street, is further reinforced through the electronic media. Numerous studies on the effects of television come to the same conclusions. Violent behaviour viewed on television is imitated by children, especially when the violence is shown as rewarding, justified and even humorous. In a similar way video games often encourage a “person-as-object” attitude, intrinsic to all forms of violence, which also affects children. AEC Pastoral Letter on Crime and Violence 2003. Art 17,18.
As was mentioned during the Workshop, the US Bishops’ pastoral letter on Domestic Violence, entitled: When I call for help, makes it clear that “Domestic Violence takes place in every parish, community and economic class and in every ethnic group…and in times of economic or family crisis, the incidence of Domestic Violence increases.”
It is evident that as a Church community, we must address this evil at every level of our communities. Catholic parishes and institutions have largely ignored the call to reach out to victims of Domestic Violence. There is an obvious need for internal conversation within the Church, identifying those aspects that have had and still have a negative impact on the Church’s ability to respond to Domestic Violence.
The following are some measures we would advocate to eliminate this scourge, to heal the victims/survivors and the perpetrators:
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- Each one of us must commit to learn more about Domestic Violence and its impact on family life and society – from a Catholic perspective. We must develop our awareness of the ways in which Domestic Violence stands as an obstacle to integral human development;
- Develop a coordinated response with our Governments, professionals, NGOs, CBOs, FBOs to develop measures aimed at eradicating Domestic Violence. Such a response must include strategies for prevention of Domestic Violence and protection of victims, including children who are most vulnerable in these situations.
- Create ministries within our parishes to reach out to victims. They must know that they are not alone and that help is available.
- Develop a databank of resources, including information about where both victims and perpetrators can obtain help. We embrace a Restorative Justice approach that would not condemn and isolate the perpetrators, but restore them to their original God-given dignity.
- Actively strive to break the cycle of violence e.g. by addressing issues relating to entrapment: social isolation, financial dependency, emotional guilt and shame that keep re-occurring in the victim’s heart, feeling of being powerless.
- Since this is a learned behaviour, we must accept the responsibility of creating education formation in our homes, in our schools, and in our workplaces that would reverse the current situation and build true communities of mutuality and respect.
The Church cannot be quiet when Church communities and families are being ravaged by the evil of Domestic Violence. Today we recommit ourselves to tackle and respond to Domestic Violence.
Bishop Emmanuel Lafont of Cayenne, French Guyana
Chairman AEC Justice and Peace Commission
Bishop Neil Tiedemann, of Mandeville, Jamaica. Bishop Wilhelm de Bekker of Paramaribo, Suriname,
AEC Justice and Peace Commission Episcopal Members
23 May 2013
