Pray For End To Violence Against Women

Last year numerous Oklahoma faith communities banded together calling for an end to violence against women. Rep. Rebecca Hamilton, a Catholic representing south Oklahoma City, helped spe-arhead the effort to bring the leaders of the various denominations together at the state Capitol. A similar gathering will take place on Feb. 22 when religious leaders meet at the Capitol to speak out against violence. A noon press conference has been scheduled and it is at this gathering Archbishop Beltran will present the declaration signed by the Catholic people of Oklahoma.

In a letter to the priests in the Archdiocese, Archbishop Beltran has asked that Feb. 25-26 be observed as a special “Day of Prayer”. On that day religious communities throughout the state are participating in an effort to bring attention to the devastation violence and especially violence directed at women causes to society.

“Last year I joined with other religious leaders in a public declaration condemning the violence in our society perpetrated against women,” Archbishop Beltran wrote in his letter. “Such violence and abuse is clearly wrong and indeed sinful,” the archbishop said. “We must do all we can to eliminate this violence so that we can all live in peace, security and love.”