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You Can Help Break the Cycle |
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Wednesday, 14 October 2009 00:00 |
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We can each help break the cycle of violence. Below are some ideas for individuals and parishes.
Individually:
- Lead by example. Model healthy relationships for your children and others in your community. Take advantage of websites such as ForYourMarriage.org, or twoofus.org, which offer resources for nourishing and strengthening your relationships.
- Teach your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews about what makes healthy relationships as well as warning signs. Encourage your children not to cohabit before marriage but be sure that they know they can always come to you if there is a problem.
- Learn the signs of abuse, how to respond to someone who is in an abusive relationship and what resources are available in your area so that you are prepared if someone confides in you that they are in an abusive relationship or approaches you asking for help.
In Your Parish:
- Make sure flyers or posters about domestic violence and teenage dating violence with the hotline number are posted in restrooms and on bulletin boards in your parish, parish center, etc.
- Make sure that parish staff know about local area resources and are prepared to respond to someone who approaches them about abuse.
- Offer space for meetings of support groups or educational seminars.
- Get involved with a parish group working to raise awareness of family violence, provide services to victims of domestic violence, promote healthy relationships among teens and adults, or facilitate dialogue between parents and teenagers about dating, sex and marriage. If no such group exists, consider starting one.
- If he doesn’t already, ask your parish priest to address domestic violence in his homilies and in bulletin articles/inserts.
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