Survey: Domestic Violence Rarely Addressed

Many Protestant pastors view domestic violence as a pro-life issue, but they almost never talk about it.

 

A new survey from LifeWay Research found most Protestant senior pastors say they know victims of domestic violence and believe stopping abuse is a pro-life issue. But those pastors seldom address domestic violence from the pulpit. And less than half have been trained in how to help victims.

 

Two Christian nonprofits—Washington, D.C.-based Sojourners and Maryland-based IMA World Health—sponsored the telephone survey of 1,000 senior pastors of Protestant churches.

 

The survey shows churches can do more to address domestic violence, Sojourners President Jim Wallis said.

 

“This is a conversation the church needs to be having but isn’t,” he said. “We cannot remain silent when our brothers and sisters live under the threat of violence in their homes and communities.”