The Romanian Patriarchate launches an appeal to priests and community for the active support of victims of domestic violence. The reaction comes from two recent crimes, in Ilfov and Prahova, in which the victims, pregnant women, were killed by partners, under the eyes of their children.
The priests must be involved in supporting the victims of domestic violence. Photo. Light
As a result of recent cases of cruelty out of the ordinary Ilfov and Prahova, in which two pregnant women were killed by partners, even in the presence of their children, the Romanian Patriarchate react with a powerful message against domestic violence. The Orthodox Church points out that such acts are not only a serious social problem, but also a direct attack on human dignity and Christian values.
“Any manifestation of violence is incompatible with the Christian teaching”,
transmits the Patriarchate in an official statement sent on Tuesday Agerpres, adding that abuses do not only affect the body, but also the soul of the victims, leaving deep and long-term psychological wounds.
In this context, the Patriarchate makes a clear call to the clergy: the priests must provide moral and material support, listen to the victims, encourage them to ask for help and actively collaborate with the authorities to protect them.
Patriarchate also states that it constantly organizes courses to prevent domestic violence in the eparchial centers in Romania and the Republic of Moldova, precisely to encourage a proactive and solidarity attitude to this phenomenon.
“Let us pray for peace in families and offer victims of domestic violence concrete support, comfort and hope”, is the exhortation transmitted by the religious institution.
The 25th murder of its kind in 5 months
The call comes in a context in which the statistics offered by the authorities are alarming. PNL deputy Alina Gorghiu recently cited the data of the Branch Center, according to which Romania registered no less than 25 killings in cases of domestic violence in the first five months of the year.
At the same time, the Romanian Police intervened in over 40,000 situations of domestic violence, almost 8,000 protection orders were issued, and 726 aggressors were forced to wear electronic bracelets.
The data also show that, out of the more than 15,000 criminal acts registered in the context of domestic violence, almost 60% are “hit and other violence”, and 12% -of “threat”.
