Domestic violence and Australian churches: why the current data have limitations

Abstract

An ABC report that Australian churches are not only “failing to sufficiently address domestic violence, it is both enabling and concealing it” has generated an outpouring of responses.

Many church and Christian leaders, as well as abuse survivors and their advocates, have praised the highlighting that Christians are not immune from domestic violence, churches are often ill-equipped to respond, and they have done so in ways that perpetuate – rather than relieve – harm.

But others have condemned the report as “selective”, “inaccurate”, and part of a broader “war on Christianity”.

So what do the data and evidence actually say?