ABUSE: THE SIN AGAINST DIGNITY

INTRODUCTORY PRAYER PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE FROM THE WICKED DELIVER ME, LORD, FROM THE WICKED; PRESERVE ME FROM THE VIOLENT, FROM THOSE WHO PLAN EVIL IN THEIR HEARTS, WHO STIR UP CONFLICTS EVERY DAY, WHO SHARPEN THEIR TONGUES LIKE SERPENTS, VENOM OF ASPS UPON THEIR LIPS. KEEP ME, LORD, FROM THE CLUTCHES OF THE WICKED; PRESERVE ME FROM THE VIOLENT, WHO PLOT TO TRIP ME UP. (PSALM 140: 1-5) THE LORD WILL RESCUE ME FROM EVERY EVIL THREAT AND WILL BRING ME SAFE TO HIS HEAVENLY KINGDOM. TO HIM BE GLORY FOREVER AND EVER. (2 TIMOTHY 4:18) AMEN.

WHAT IS ABUSE? ABUSE IS SIMPLY THE MISTREATMENT OF ANOTHER PERSON BY WORD, DEED, OR THEIR OMISSION. WHEN SOMEONE IS ABUSED, THEIR SENSE OF WORTH AND DIGNITY IS CHALLENGED.

ABUSE TAKES ON DIFFERENT FORMS 1. PHYSICAL 2. SEXUAL 3. EMOTIONAL 4. VERBAL Home: domestic violence, spouse rape, incest Workplace: sexual harassment Institutional: elder abuse, bullying Religious and Community: hate crimes

ABUSE AFFECTS EVERYONE ABUSE IS A SERIOUS SOCIAL AND CULTURAL PROBLEM AFFECTING EVERYONE WHETHER AS A VICTIM OF ABUSE, A PERPETRATOR, A FRIEND OR CONFIDANT OF AN ABUSED PERSON LOOKING FOR WAYS TO BE HELPFUL, OR SIMPLY AS SOMEONE WHO IS ANGERED BY INJUSTICE AND WANTS TO WORK FOR POSITIVE CHANGE.

STATISTICS ABOUT ABUSE THERE ARE NEARLY 900,000 CHILD VICTIMS OF ABUSE, NEARLY 8 MILLION INCIDENTS OF INTIMATE PARTNER ABUSE, AND AMONG TEENS, NEARLY 1 IN 4 REPORTED VERBAL, PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND/OR SEXUAL ABUSE. MOST TEENS ARE PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH BULLYING AND DATING-RELATED ABUSE, EITHER AS VICTIMS OR PERPETRATORS.

LONG-TERM EFFECTS CHILDREN WITH VIOLENT HOMES HAVE AN INCREASED RISK OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY. THEY MAY EXPERIENCE LEARNING, LANGUAGE, AND DEVELOPMENTAL PROBLEMS. THEY MAY DEVELOP LOW SELF-ESTEEM, AGGRESSIVENESS, ANXIETY, POOR HEALTH, DISTRUST OF RELATIONSHIPS, GUILT, DESENSITIZATION TO PAIN, SELF-ABUSE, DEPRESSION, ANGER, AVOIDANCE, MOOD SWINGS, AND ANTI- SOCIAL BEHAVIOR.

LONG-TERM EFFECTS: BOYS AND GIRLS Boys who witness domestic violence are: 4 times more likely to become batters of female partners as adults, 25 times more likely to commit rape as an adult, 6 times more likely to commit suicide, 74 % more likely to commit crimes, and 24 times more likely to commit sexual assault. Girls from homes in which domestic violence occurs are: 6.5 times more likely to be sexually assaulted and are more likely to become pregnant as a teen.

 IF YOU ARE ABUSED, SEEK HELP. IF YOU SEE IN OTHERS ABUSE OR SIGNS OF IT, TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND SEEK HELP FOR THE ABUSED. DO YOU PARTAKE IN ABUSE? DO YOU DOMINATE OR CONTROL OTHERS? SUBMIT YOURSELF TO THE LORD AND LIVE FREELY AS CHILDREN OF GOD. REMEMBER: LOVE FREES. IT DOESN’T ENSLAVE OR DEGRADE.

HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS

DATING BILL OF RIGHTS Ask for a date Refuse a date Suggest activities Refuse any activities, even if my date is excited about them Have my own feelings and be able to express them Say, "I think my friend is wrong and his actions are inappropriate" Tell someone not to interrupt me Have my limits and values respected Tell my partner when I need affection Refuse affection Be heard Refuse to lend money Refuse sex any time, for any reason Have friends and space aside from my partner I have the right to:

I HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO: DETERMINE MY LIMITS AND VALUES RESPECT THE LIMITS OF OTHERS COMMUNICATE CLEARLY AND HONESTLY NOT VIOLATE THE LIMITS OF OTHERS ASK FOR HELP WHEN I NEED IT BE CONSIDERATE CHECK MY ACTIONS AND DECISIONS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY ARE GOOD OR BAD FOR ME SET HIGH GOALS FOR MYSELF

CLOSING PRAYER