USCCB revokes longtime support for Violence Against Women Act due to controversial changes
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 12, 2013 ( LifeSiteNews ) – The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement last week revoking their longstanding support of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in light of changes to the 2013 reauthorization passed by Congress and signed by President Obama on March 7. The changes added language concerning homosexuality and ‘gender identity’ and denied conscience protections to faith-based groups that serve women overseas. The VAWA, first passed in 1994, was originally intended to offer increased protection and assistance to female victims of rape, domestic violence , stalking and other predominately male-on-female crimes. Over the past 19 years, the scope of the legislation has grown to encompass victims of both sexes, provided the crimes match those covered by the law. Now, however, homosexual activists have successfully pushed for inclusion of same-sex couples and ‘transgender’ people in special categories of protection.