Panel discussion on Domestic Violence

Fundraising campaign to continue restoration of Tortuga church
February 29, 2020
Panel discussion on Domestic Violence
February 29, 2020

Panel discussion on Domestic Violence

More than ten ministries of the Archdiocesan Family Life Commission (AFLC) have come together to plan a panel discussion on the issue of Domestic Violence. The discussion will be held Saturday, March 14 at Benet Hall, Mt St Benedict from 3 to 5 p.m.

This event is being organised and supported by the AFLC’s Ministry to Married Couples—Marriage Encounter; Ministry to Hurting Marriages—Retrouvaille; Ministry to Men—Catholic Men’s Association; Ministry to Women—Jubilee Generation; Ministry to the Separated, Divorced & Widowed—New Beginnings Weekend; Couples for Christ; Original Pain Therapy; Billings Ovulation Method Association of T&T; Ministry to Life—Emmanuel Community Apostles of Life; Teams of Our Lady; Human Sexuality; Ministry to Parenting— (Single and Married); and the Ministry to Persons with Disabilities —Bethesda.

The question: ‘As a member of the Catholic Church, what can I do about domestic violence in our country?’ has to be asked to start the conversation. It is hoped the outcome would be the development of a working document within the Archdiocese “to give to all departments and ministries that will provide listings of updated resources for victims and perpetrators of domestic violence as well as start awareness campaigns throughout our local Church”.

Panellists are Archbishop Jason Gordon; psychologist Dr Karen Moore; attorney-at-law Marina K Toolsie; and representatives from the new Gender-Based Violence Unit of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, the Catholic Commission for Social Justice and the Coalition against Domestic Violence.

Lay minister and Chief Executive Officer of PEAPSL Consultancy Limited Neil Parsanlal will be moderator.

The Church’s position will be examined at the discussion.

During the January Ask the Archbishop Live online chat, Archbishop Gordon said “Domestic violence is a sin against the dignity of the human person. It is also a ground for annulment…. In fact, you should not stay. You should get out and get out quickly. You can even question whether there was a marriage in the first place.”

Likely to be referenced will be the May 2013 statement of the bishops of the Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC) issued following a domestic violence seminar organised by the AEC’s Justice and Peace Commission, at the St Paul’s Pastoral Centre, Better Hope, Guyana.

The panel discussion is open to the public and registration is free. For more information, contact Linda Kowlessar at 737-2070 or email linda.kow16@gmail.com or familylife@catholictt.org