Family Violence – What you need to know
Family violence has far reaching effects on individuals, families, communities and future generations.
We are all affected by family violence whether we are directly involved or not.
Family violence is something to worry about if you don’t feel safe in your own home with the people who should care about you the most.
Family violence happens when:
- One partner is being physically and/or emotionally abusive towards their partner or former partner
- Parents or caregivers are physically and/or emotionally hurting their children
- Children are involved or witnessing acts of physical or emotional abuse
- Older family members are being treated violently by younger family members
If you or your child are in immediate danger or need to talk to someone immediately, please contact the Police ph 111. Otherwise contact our office Ph: 378 9650 between the hours of 9-5pm, Monday – Friday.
About Family Violence
Living together in love, without violence, is at the heart of the Gospel. In our parishes, just as in the wider community there are people who live with violence and threats in their homes. Domesic violence affects every part of Auckland, in every suburb and in every parish. Know how to tell whether domestic violence is affecting a neighbour, a friend or a fellow parishioner? Do we know what to do if someone asks for help? To whom can we turn if we suspect that a neighbour or friend might be at risk?
Family violence is an issue that goes beyond our personal views. As a committed Catholic community we must respond appropriately and with compassion.
Our Catholic faith says clearly that there is no place for family violence. Families need to be free from violence to be loving, healthy and strong.
Catholic Social Services has worked with many families where violence has occurred. Often we see this work as work at the bottom of the cliff. In recent years we have also been working with church groups to prevent family violence. We see this as working with parish and other church communities, to build fences at the top of the cliff so that fewer people live in fear, or are hurt or killed.
We are committed to supporting parishes and other church communities to become places of safety where families can live without violence.
We offer workshops for people in parishes or other church communities or groups to prevent family violence. We do this by giving information about violence in families and information on how to respond if you are worried about a family. These workshops can be tailor made in order to fit the particular needs of any community in the Diocese and are available to any parish, church community, deanery, interest group, or any other group within the Diocese.
Click here for Family Violence – What you need to know
If you are unsure what to do and want to talk to someone about your situation, please contact us at 09 378 9650