"Violence against women, inside or outside                 the home, is never justified. Violence in any                 form�physical, sexual, psychological, or                 verbal�is sinful; often, it is a crime as                 well" (U.S. Catholic Bishops, When I Call for                 Help, 2002).                
               
The Catholic Bishops of the United States                 continued to speak out against domestic violence in                 their 2002 statement, When I Call for Help: A                 Pastoral Response to Domestic Violence Against                 Women, an updated version of their 1992 statement.                 The statement:                

               

                 
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  Addresses abused women, men who abuse, and                     pastors and pastoral staffs                    
  

                   
                 
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  Offers updated statistics, resources and                     information about domestic violence                    
  

                   
                 
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  Includes practical suggestions for dioceses                     and parishes based on actual experiences

                   
               

               
               

For the full text of                 When I                 Call for Help, click here.                
               
Also available:                
               
When I Call for Help Resource Cards. These                 cards, in English and Spanish, list signs of an                 abusive relationship and include the number for the                 National Domestic Violence Hotline. Ideal for                 parish pamphlet racks and as a resource to raise a                 congregation's awareness about domestic abuse.                
               
                For                 ordering information, click here.                
               
               
                Resources for priests,                 deacons, and pastoral staffs

               

                Survey of diocesan                 responses to domestic violence                                
               
                Suggestions                 for preaching about family violence                
               
                Sample                 homilies on domestic violence                
               
                Addressing                 domestic violence in the sacrament of                 reconciliation                
               
                Batterers                 and the sacrament of reconciliation                
               
                What                 do you say?                
               
               
                Websites

               

                FaithTrust                 Institute (formerly the Center for the                 Prevention of Sexual and Domestic Violence)                
               
                National Domestic                 Violence Hotline                
               
                National Coalition                 Against Domestic Violence