This media release is related to domestic and family violence and ways in which the Catholic Church in Australia, particularly here in Victoria, is responding. The media statement acknowledges that Social Justice Sunday is 28th August, which provides an opportunity for all to pause and consider the causes and structures that sit behind harm, inequality, and injustice that are present in our society and what we might all be prayerfully and practically involved in—joined with others as a community and society—to together address these issues.
The Australian Catholic Bishops’ 2022-23 Social Justice statement, titled Respect: Confronting Violence and Abuse, points out that the roots of domestic and family violence “lie in the abuse of power to control and dominate others” and that “this stands in contrast to the relationships to which God calls us”. Our relationships should be “marked by equality and reciprocity rather than domination and violence, respect and freedom rather than coercion and control”.
To holistically and seriously respond to the issue of family and domestic violence, a whole-of-Church response is needed. In collaboration with the Catholic Diocese of Sale in Victoria, with support from the Victorian Multicultural Commission, and auspiced by Catholic Social Services Victoria’s Domestic Violence Committee, a pilot program has been running in the Diocese of Sale, which has enabled more than 100 participants to attend ‘Shining A Light’ workshops across the six regions of the diocese.
The program demonstrates that the Catholic Church is active and engaged in this core issue of justice and is working toward better equipping people to understand domestic and family violence, and to respond effectively.
For a range of resources related to Social Justice Sunday on 28th August, click here.
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