Oooooeeeeee!Chapter 12 of the 'Toolkit' contains some scary stuff too! (Not!):
Chapter 12REALLY scary stuff ...Engaging Religious, Spiritual, and Faith-Based Groups and Organizations
Two out of every three Americans are affiliated with a religious, spiritual, or faith-based group or organization, and approximately one out of every four Americans is an active member of such a community.
Based on the breadth and reach of these organizations, it is not surprising that many women and girls turn to religious leaders for guidance in dealing with violence.
Some religious, spiritual, and faith-based organizations provide victims with well-informed, practical, and spiritual guidance, including referrals to other organizations.
Religious organizations are essential to the culture and sustenance of communities and are uniquely positioned to champion efforts to end violence against women. Although philosophical differences have created tension between some religious, spiritual, and faith organizations and victim advocates, common ground can be found in shared interests to end violence against women. programs, and public and private funders can take to end violence against women.
What Religious Communities Can Do:
o Commit to making the problem of violence against women and girls a critical concern.
o Emphasize the teachings, practices, and organizational structures that promote a woman’s right to be free from violence, such as teachings that support equality and respect for women and girls.
o Develop theologically based materials that emphasize a woman’s right to safety and support and a perpetrator’s personal responsibility for ending the violence.
Thank you for posting this. I think it is important that people understand. It says "some".....they, too, need education in this area. They often want to see the family unit kept together and push this hard, turning a deaf ear to the victim. Some can even "beat," so to speak, the victim with scripture to keep them "in their place". The religious organizations need education as much as the rest of the country does.