Violence Against Women Act renewed by Senate

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
2/13/2013
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Measure had become a lightning rod in the realm of gender politics

The Senate has approved legislation to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. While met with opposition by some Republicans, Senators voted 78 to 22 to send their version of the bill to the Republican-controlled House, where it faces an uncertain future.

The Violence Against Women Act and others like that have become a lightning rod in the realm of gender politics. Democrats have favored casting Republicans as leading a 'war on women' during last year's election.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Several Republican senators along with their democratic counterparts voted to renew the landmark gender and domestic violence law. The measure had lapsed at the end of 2012 after lawmakers in the last Congress failed to reach agreement on an extension.

Republicans had long objected to certain stipulations of the reauthorization. High among them was a technical dispute over jurisdiction for Native American tribal authorities in the instances of certain crimes.

"Especially in communities like West Virginia where victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in rural and remote communities face unique obstacles in their efforts to escape abusive and dangerous relationships, support provided by VAWA can literally be lifesaving," West Virginia Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, a relatively moderate Republican who's running for Senate in 2014 says. "I am urging House leaders to immediately reauthorize this essential Act."

The Violence Against Women Act and others like that have become a lightning rod in the realm of gender politics. Democrats have favored casting Republicans as leading a "war on women" during last year's election. Democrats were all too eager to seize on GOP opposition to a contraception mandate, or controversial statements made by Senate candidates Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock about rape.

A group of 17 House GOP lawmakers wrote the party's leadership this week urging them to take up the Senate bill that had been passed. If those Republicans were to join with every House Democrat in support of the bill, it would be enough to pass the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization in the House.

� 2013, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Violence Agsint Women Act, Senate, House, Republicans, Democrats, Shelley Moore Capito

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1 - 5 of 5 Comments

Robert
2 months ago
Karl,

I dare point out that the four no votes were for reasons that the bill was inadequate. The bill was bad. Similar to a bill for hurricane relief packed with billions of pork for to aid someone's political supporters.

Only one party supports abortions at all times for any reason. A unborn baby girl can be aborted for simply being a girl. When asked about gender selective abortions, the democratic talking heads say it is a women's choice. I ask you, do you agree that a gender selective abortion is a war on women?

Five non-negotiables of Catholic Social Teaching:
1. Abortion
2. Euthanasia
3. Embryo Stem Cell Research
4. Gay marriage
5. Religious Freedom

Of these five, only one party is in direct conflict with all five.
KarlVDH
3 months ago
All the "no" votes were Republicans. Anyone still think they are the party Catholics should back?
We NEED our own, people. Wake up!!!
Jade Riani
3 months ago
Perhaps the Senate should have seen the recent iPhone App called "How to Train Your Boyfriend." It advocates violence again men and Apple has so far refused to remove it. Double standard? I agree with youkokun! We need a Domestic Violence Act, not another pandering scheme aimed at women. As a woman I have men I care about and don't want to see them silenced anymore than I would a woman.
youkokun
3 months ago
As a woman of couse I don't condone violence against women. However I cannot abide the systematic emasculization and marginalization of Western men.

Look up MRM, the men's rights movement. Anti-feminist? Yes. Misogynistic? Often, but not as a rule, and to be honest I find it refreshing to read about what real men find as serious flaws in women. Little boy are taught not under any circumstances to hit girls, but girls are sometimes actually encouraged to act phsically against boys, and when we're older, beyond self-defese. Women are most often revealed publicly as victims, but fairly often men are victims of domestic abuse--but they can't claim it so easily; they've only got a prayer as to whether the court will listen to their case impartially. We don't need a renewal of a Violence Against Women Act. We need a Domestic Violence Act.
abey
3 months ago
Laws resulting from Wide spread Agendas is to the Politics & never to a social solution which history as proved over & over again.

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