Brochure of the Month

Brochure of the Month:  November 2019

Domestic Violence

         Domestic violence knows no boundaries of race, social class, ethnicity, or age. Abuser and victim may be married, living together, or dating. Victims often keep the abuse private because of fear, shame, or well-intended efforts to preserve the family. Violence is typically accompanied by emotional abuse as the abuser seeks to control the victim. It is commonly accepted that violence is rarely an isolated incident, not to be attributed solely to substance abuse or stress, but a pattern of behavior for the abuser to get what he wants.  Abusers have their own history of family problems (often being abused) that can explain how they learned to be aggressive, and need their own help and healing.
        Since victims rarely ask for help until the threat of violence increases, it is helpful for friends and family to be aware of risk factors, such a jealousy, possessiveness, or controlling or threatening behaviors. If you believe someone may be in a troubled situation, you can call a hotline for assistance and encourage the victim to do the same. The Fort Bend hotline for domestic violence is 281-342-HELP (4357), and the national hotline is 800-799-SAFE (7233).

The brochure is available at the Hospitality Desk in the Church and in the Ave Maria Family Life Center. Links to the text on the USCCB website are here: 
                                   English      and      Spanish. (these links are to 8.5 x 11 inch format.)