Before the Cross | Violence is always sinful, never justified

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Archbishop Robert J. Carlson talked with reporters after he announced plans to strengthen Catholic schools through his Alive in Christ mission advancement initiative Feb. 2 at John F. Kennedy Catholic High School.

For the past six weeks, I have been writing about issues that Cardinal-designate Timothy M. Dolan, Archbishop of New York and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, has identified as moral challenges that we should regard as priorities for this election year. As we form our consciences and exercise our rights -- and responsibilities -- as faithful citizens, the following threats against individuals and the common good require our attention:

• Abortion and all threats against the dignity of human life

• Increasing efforts to force health care professionals and other ministers to violate their consciences

• The devaluation of marriage and family life

• The global economic crisis and its impact on the poor and future generations

• Abusive treatment of immigrants

• Wars, terror, increasing violence at home and abroad

What do each of these have in common? Violence -- the attempt to manipulate, control or destroy the lives and well-being of others.

Violence has been part of the human condition from the beginning. The Book of Genesis tells the story of the first instance of domestic violence in recorded history -- Cain's murder of his brother Abel. Violence is always sinful. It is never OK to abuse another human being -- physically, emotionally or by the force of legal or psychological intimidation.

War and terrorism are expressions of violence on a grand scale. But abortion, the deliberate killing of an innocent and defenseless unborn child, is even more horrible and unjustified.

Every act of violence contributes directly to what Blessed John Paul II called "the culture of death." It tears down and destroys what God has created -- human persons made in His image and likeness -- and it violates the "culture of life" that we are called to nurture and grow as members of the Body of Christ.

What's the difference between normal conflict and violence? Conflict is part of life. We all have to learn to disagree in healthy and productive ways. Violence destroys all hope for the peaceful resolution of conflict -- whether among individuals, families or groups. Peace is only possible when violence has been set aside and when forgiveness and reconciliation have taken the place of bitter disagreement and unresolved conflict.

Within the past few months, our region has witnessed horrific instances of domestic violence including abusive behavior against children, spouses, neighbors and "strangers" in our midst. Domestic violence is any kind of behavior that a person uses, or threatens to use, to control another, usually more vulnerable, person. The two key elements are threat and control. Within families and intimate relationships, domestic violence can take various forms:

• Physical -- Violent actions such as hitting, beating, pushing and kicking. In many cases physical abuse becomes more frequent and severe over time

• Sexual -- Includes any sexual acts that are forced on one partner by the other

• Psychological -- Includes a wide range of behaviors such as intimidation, isolating the victim from friends and family, controlling where the victim goes, making the victim feel guilty or crazy and making unreasonable demands

• Emotional -- Undermining an individual's self-esteem, constant criticism, insults, put-downs and name-calling

• Economic -- Examples include limiting the victim's access to family income, preventing the victim from working or forcing the victim to work, destroying the victim's property and making all the financial decisions

Alcohol and drugs are often associated with domestic violence, but they do not cause it. An abusive person who drinks or uses drugs has two different problems: substance abuse and violence. Both must be treated.

Let's work to end violence in all its forms. Let's be women and men who respect one another in spite of our differences. Let's choose candidates for public office who are dedicated to building up the culture of life. And let's endorse only those policies and practices that affirm life and reject wars, terror and violence both here at home and abroad.