Press Releases26 Nov 25

Causes of domestic violence ‘happen in the daylight’

The words and attitudes that lead to domestic violence are often very visible and must be challenged to help prevent this dark form of abuse, Archbishop John McDowell remarked at the Souls of Our Shoes exhibition yesterday afternoon (Tuesday, 25th November) at Stormont.

He made his remarks at Parliament Buildings at the invitation of All–Ireland Mothers’ Union President Kay Clarke.

The archbishop thanked Diana Armstrong MLA and Deborah Erskine MLA for sponsoring the event and underlined the fact that the Mothers’ Union has been involved in the 16 Days of Activism against Gender–Based Violence for many years: “It has made a very significant contribution to raising awareness of the difficulties around domestic violence.”

With the Church of Ireland entering the Season of Advent, he recalled the words of the Collect, ‘Give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light’.

“If ever there was a thing that happens in the darkness and in the shadows, it’s domestic violence,” he stated.  “It happens behind closed doors and those of who have been to the many Mothers’ Union breakfasts where survivors of domestic violence have spoken, have usually been astounded first of all by ‘I would never have thought that that person, in those circumstances, would be a victim of domestic violence.’”

As well as shining light into dark places, it was important to remember that “not all the things that lead to domestic violence” happen in dark places.

“Very often, they happen in the daylight,” he continued, “when we tolerate a certain idea, particularly towards women, when we allow a casual remark or coarse joke or just the snide superiority – which can come so often in our society – when we allow that to pass, when we allow a culture to build up which, in a way, almost claims to be the giving of permission to do that which we should never have permission to do.”

Souls of Our Shoes, the archbishop added, refers to the very place where we touch the ground, where we are, regardless of our circumstances.  The Church, he concluded, had a role in supporting Mothers’ Union’s work and highlighting the unacceptability of domestic violence.

The exhibition was also attended by Bishops Ian Ellis and George Davison, Archdeacon Stephen McBride, Archdeacon Mark Harvey (representing Bishop David McClay), and representatives from other church organisations, including the Catholic Diocese of Down and Connor and the Irish Council of Churches.