Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is any kind of patterned behavior that someone uses, or threatens to use, to overpower and/or control an intimate partner. The two key elements are power and control. Domestic violence can take various forms:

• Physical: Includes violent actions such as hitting, beating, pushing, and kicking. In many cases physical abuse becomes more frequent and severe over time.
• Sexual: Includes any sexual acts that are forced on one partner by the other.
• Psychological: Includes a wide range of behaviors such as intimidation, isolating the victim from friends and family, controlling where the victim goes, making the victim feel guilty or crazy, and making unreasonable demands.
• Verbal: Includes undermining an individual’s self-esteem, constant criticism, insults, put-downs, and name-calling.

"Violence in any form—physical, sexual, psychological, or verbal—is sinful; often, it is a crime as well. ... The Catholic Church teaches that violence against another person in any form fails to treat that person as someone worthy of love. Instead, it treats the person as an object to be used." - When I Call for Help, USCCB

One of the dealiest and most dangerous times for a person experiencing domestic violence is when they are looking for help and planning to leave. Safety Alert: Computer history can be monitored and is impossible to completely clear. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233, or TTY at 1−800−787−3224, or go to the National Domestic Hotline website: www.thehotline.org.

Iowa Victim Service Call Center: 1-800-770-1650 or text ‘IOWAHELP’ to 20121 or visit:  https://www.survivorshelpline.org/domestic-violence.php.

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Dubuque counseling services can also be a helpful place to turn for professional help: https://www.catholiccharitiesdubuque.org/counseling.

See below for helpful resources for responding to Domestic Violence.