Supporting Survivors from Faith-based Communities Act

Congress finds as follows:

(1) 41 percent of American women and 26.3 percent of American men experience, over their lifetimes, physical violence, sexual assault, or stalking by an intimate partner with associated impacts such as injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, the need for medical care, or law enforcement involvement.

(2) Faith and faith communities often play a central role in the lives of individuals experiencing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, particularly in underserved or culturally specific populations. Faith and faith communities can be a source of strength and support for victims and survivors, and can improve survivors’ outcomes and resilience.

(3) Many survivors of domestic or sexual violence want to be able to talk about the faith or spiritual dimensions of their healing journey with advocates, yet it is rare for advocacy programs to take into account religious or spiritual concerns raised by survivors.

(4) Studies have found that spiritual and religious sources of resilience are common among survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse.

(5) Clergy respondents have often reported that they have been approached by victims of domestic abuse and were often the first professional the survivor approached.

(6) Religious involvement can promote greater psychological well-being for domestic violence survivors, including a greater quality of life, and decreased depression.