The Rev. Sandra L. Strauss, a Presbyterian minister, is director of public advocacy for the Pennsylvania Council of Churches. The council worked to build support for the state’s minimum-wage law, which involved a tiered series of increases.

Sara Niccoli is a program representative at the New York State Nurses Association, with experience in nonprofit management and policy advocacy dedicated to improving quality of life for working people. She is a former executive director of the New York State Labor-Religion Coalition.

Read an April 12, 2013 PBS transcript of an interview with Father Charles Dahm on domestic violence and religion.

The federal Violence Against Women Act of 2005 was first signed into law in January 2006.

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) crafted a policy statement on domestic violence at its 2001 General Assembly.

The Episcopal Church passed a resolution in 1994 at its 71st General Convention condemning violence against women. In 2000, delegates at the 73rd General Convention called the church to address domestic violence within its own community.

The United Methodist Church passed a resolution on domestic violence in 1992.

The Southern Baptist Convention passed a resolution against domestic violence in 1979.

The Catholic Church’s National Conference of Catholic Bishops issued the statement against domestic violence towards women in 2002.