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.

Bradley J. Widstrom is an assistant professor of youth and family ministries at Denver Seminary in Littleton, Colo. The youth and family ministry department offers a master’s degree in youth and family counseling with a focus on at-risk youths.

Milwaukee Christian Center was founded to help local immigrants. It provides programs for first-time juvenile offenders. Karen Higgins is executive director.

Rebecca Rae Anderson is the vice chair of health promotion, social and behavioral health sciences at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.  She is a board-certified genetic counselor, a member of the Social, Ethical, Legal Issues Committee of the American College of Medical Genetics and the author of Religious Traditions and Prenatal Genetic Counseling.