Anti-domestic-violence rally held

About 60 people gathered in front of Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral on Tuesday to proclaim that God hates domestic violence.

Each time one of several speakers made that point, helium balloons were released and the crowd recited, “Out of our distress, we call on God, help us end the violence.”

Although the event took place at a Roman Catholic church, it included people of other faiths. It was sponsored jointly by the YWCA, which has observed Domestic Violence Month every October for years, and the year-old Faith Partners organization.

Faith Partners encourages people of all religions to be more aware of domestic violence.

“None of the sacred texts condones violence against women, and we want all women to know that,” said the Rev. Jim CastroLang, one of the event organizers and pastor of Zion Philadelphia United Church of Christ in Ritzville.

As the Rev. Collin Dunbar of East Central Seventh-day Adventist Church put it, “Violence against one is violence against all, for we are family.”