Catholic priest gives 4 tips against family violence

The Argentine priest Tomás Agustín Beroch offered four pieces of advice to confront family or domestic violence, specifying that nothing justifies it and that “neither the man should hit the woman nor the woman the man.”

Father Beroch, who serves in the diocese of Savannah, in the state of Georgia (United States), gave this advice in his account of the red social X this June 12, for which he shared the story of a woman whose husband hit her and who, on one occasion, broke two of her ribs.

This woman, who had gone to see a priest, asked the priest for a letter so that the authorities would not deport her husband, something to which the priest refused, with which the abuser was deported, which caused the victim will get angry.

“That woman left the Church because her father did not help her so that her husband, who broke two of her ribs with blows, was not deported. But the priest did the right thing, because although she does not recognize it, she saved his life,” said the priest.

1. Physical separation

The priest explains that “the Church does not support divorce, but neither does the Church support domestic violence.” In that sense, he specifies that “although marriage is forever, in some cases physical separation is the only solution. He does not mean that one can remarry and form a couple again, for that it is necessary to initiate a marriage annulment process.

However, he continues, “domestic violence is a reason why there are times when priests recommend physical separation. Nothing justifies hitting one’s spouse, since that is a sin that cries out to heaven.”

Numeral 2383 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church states that “the separation of spouses with permanence of the marriage bond may be legitimate in certain cases provided for by Canon Law.”

These cases consider, for example, what canon 1153 states: “if one of the spouses puts the other or their offspring in serious spiritual or physical danger, or otherwise makes life together too hard,” as in the case of family violence, “provides the other with a legitimate reason to separate, with the authorization of the Ordinary (bishop) of the place and, if the delay implies a danger, also by his own authority.”

2. A chaste and pure courtship

Father Beroch then highlights that for all this “it is so important to have a chaste and pure courtship. If a man is not able to live in chastity before his marriage, it is possible that when he gets married he will not be able to control his emotions in other aspects.”

“It does not mean that those who did not live chastity before marriage will necessarily be violent. But a chaste and pure courtship helps the couple to get to know each other before marriage more than other types of experiments that only lead us to sin and the loss of God’s grace,” she adds.

“Never tolerate domestic violence. There is no justification for a slap or a hit, no matter how angry you are. “Neither the man should hit the woman nor the woman the man, because husband and wife were made to love each other, and loving each other implies respecting the body and physical integrity of others,” he emphasizes.

3. Prayer

The Argentine priest then says that “when someone comes and says to me: Father, I need you to recommend a prayer to end domestic violence. My answer is this: the Mass, the rosary, adoration…”

4. Call the police

In the final part of what he advises when asked for a prayer to end domestic violence, Father Beroch specifies that he also encourages remembering “the number 911 (a very well-known number for those of us who live in the United States).”

This number, in the North American country, puts people in direct contact with the police in the event of an emergency, such as domestic violence.

What does the Catholic Church say about divorce?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church points out in numeral 2384 that “divorce is a serious offense to natural law. It intends to break the contract, freely accepted by the spouses, to live together until death. “Divorce attacks the Covenant of salvation of which sacramental marriage is a sign.”

Furthermore, the text specifies, “the fact of entering into a new union, although recognized by civil law, increases the severity of the breakup: the remarried spouse is then in a situation of public and permanent adultery.”

The Catholic Church and separation in cases of “serious danger”

Canon 1153 § 1 of the Code of Canon Law, the law of the Church, states: “If one of the spouses places the other or the children in grave spiritual or bodily danger, or otherwise makes life together too hard, provides the other with a legitimate reason to separate, with the authorization of the local Ordinary and, if the delay implies a danger, also by his own authority.”

What is marriage annulment? Is it a “Catholic divorce”?

Marital annulment is not the “annulment” of a marriage, but rather the declaration or recognition made by the Church, after a canonical process, that what appeared to be a marriage never existed. It is not a “Catholic divorce.”

At the end of 2015, the reform of marriage annulment processes promoted by Pope Francis came into force.

Among the main aspects of the reform are greater participation by bishops, as well as greater brevity for the resolution of cases and the declaration of their gratuity.