Friday, March 14, 2008
c_
Workshop examines abuse crimes
c_
Domestic violence victims come from all backgrounds, faiths and economic situations.
YOUNGSTOWN — “The only time we should be looking down on a sister is when we’re helping her up,” said Detective Sgt. Delphine Baldwin-Casey in her opening remarks at a free workshop called “Abuse Crimes that Affect Women, Children and the Church.”
That statement set the tone of the Thursday event sponsored by Youngstown Police Chaplains at Youngstown Police Training Center, 1639 Mahoning Ave. The female chaplains, along with Baldwin-Casey, liaison officer, hosted the gathering in recognition of March as Women’s History Month. About 40 attended.
Baldwin-Casey, who has been with the YPD for some 30 years, said, “Education is the key. There are solutions in the network of services.”
Melinda Gavin, executive director of Sojourner House, a shelter for battered people, said a difficulty in dealing with domestic violence is judgment made by others. “Anyone can be a victim,” she said, noting that the five top perpetrators of domestic violences are doctors, lawyers, police, firefighters and ministers. “It’s not the usual image. But these are men in powerful positions, often with connections. People want to believe the victims of domestic violence aren’t high school graduates and are on welfare,” she said. “Victims are diverse,” she said, noting that they come from all backgrounds, faiths and economic situations.
Gavin said she and other professionals are seeing a second generation of victims. She noted some have told her they remember her when they were children in a shelter with their mothers; and now they are in the shelter. “They may have said they would never be in this situation,” Gavin said, but they learned the behavior at home. “They’re modeling behavior.”
Baldwin-Casey discussed how family violence hurts children. “They don’t have to be hit to feel the pain,” she said. Violence can affect people of all economic, racial and religious backgrounds. “This is learned behavior, she said. “Girls who witness abuse learn to accept abuse.”
Baldwin-Casey said there is hope for children in violent homes. “There are positive influences through community support, youth activities, resources at school and mentoring programs,” she said.
Sister Rose Huber, pastoral associate at Sts. Peter & Paul Croatian Roman Catholic Church and Our Lady of Hungary Roman Catholic Church, addressed how churches could help battered women and deal with abuse.
She referred to the book, “Doorway to Response: The Role of Clergy in Ministry with Battered Women” by Carol Findon Bingham.
“Many clergy are not trained in how to deal with this,” she said. “Churches as institutions are ill-prepared,” she continued. But, she said, it is their duty to make referrals so victims can get proper assistance or give sanctuary and “provide pastoral intervention and support.”
She also pointed out premarital educational programs help prepare couples for the challenges that they will face.
The Rev. Gwen Alexander, police chaplain and associate minister at Phillips Memorial Missionary Baptist Church, talked about misuse of Scriptures to control people. “Knowing and obeying Scripture is the foundation of a godly life,” she said. She noted passages from the book of Ephesians, one that tells wives to be subject to their husbands. But, she noted, it also goes on to tell husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church.
“We must open up our minds to new situations and not be so traditional,” she said.
Martha Katz, a licensed professional clinical counselor, spoke on appropriate and inappropriate counseling. A handout noted safety, denial, victimization, knowing the laws and resources, custody and respect of client’s wishes as issues counselors handle.
linonis@vindy.com