Catholic websites that offer support:
- Catholics for Family Peace: “We aim to inform everyone on ways for the Catholic community can promote family peace and prevent and respond to domestic abuse.”
- Create Soul Space: “Finding peace and clarity from domestic abuse — Creating the space to become YOU again.”
- DivorcedCatholic: “Our mission is to help get you started – and keep you going – on the path to recovery, rebuilding, and renewal from divorce by providing you with information, resources, and encouragement.”
- Hope’s Garden: “Our mission is to accompany and guide women on their healing journey, especially those who have suffered spousal and/or familial wounds.”
- Momentum Catholic Single Mothers: “We are a faith community for Catholic single mothers. We offer retreats, online faith-based gatherings and gatherings in our local chapters.”
As pastors of the Catholic Church in the United States, we state as clearly and strongly as we can that 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. We have called for a moral revolution to replace a culture of violence. We acknowledge that violence has many forms, many causes, and many victims—men as well as women. ~ USCCB, When I Call for Help: A Pastoral Response to Domestic Violence Against Women
Christian support groups:
- Flying Free Kaleidoscope – an online coaching, education and support community for Christian women in painful and confusing marriages. (Paid membership site provides access to forums and courses. Free podcast.)
- Leslie Vernick’s Conquer – a private group designed to help women in destructive marriages discover newfound growth. (Paid online membership.)
- DivorceCare – divorce recovery support groups. (Hosted at local churches; small fee for course and materials. Not abuse informed.)
Books that may support awareness, growth and healing:
- How Can We Help to End Violence in Catholic Families? A Guide for Clergy, Religious and Laity by Dr. Christauria Welland
- Journeying through Life with Jesus the Son of God: A brief course in Life Skills for Catholic youth and adults by Dr. Christauria Welland
- Is It Me? Making Sense of Your Confusing Marriage: A Christian Woman’s Guide to Hidden Emotional and Spiritual Abuse by Natalie Hoffman.
- Good Boundaries and Goodbyes: Loving Others Without Losing the Best of Who You Are by Lysa Teurkheurst
- The Emotionally Destructive Marriage: How to Find Your Voice and Reclaim Your Hope by Leslie Vernick
- All the Scary Little Gods by Natalie Hoffman (memoir)
- A Well-Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy by Tia Levings (memoir)
- She Deserves Better: Raising Girls to Resist Toxic Teachings on Sex, Self, and Speaking Up by Sheila Wray Gregoire
- The Great Sex Rescue: The Lies You’ve Been Taught and How to Recover What God Intended by Sheila Wray Gregoire