t and always seem sad. Abused children have confusing feelings. They feel trapped and guilty that they may be responsible for the violence. They also feel ashamed that this is happening to them. At the same time, many abused children feel loyal to their parents. They want and need attention and love, and they deserve it. When the person who is supposed to love them hurts them instead, they may feel it is because they are bad. Abusive parents are often very cold to their children. Some children want attention from their parents so badly that they confuse getting hit with getting attention. An abused person feels like a hostage. She feels afraid, alone, and trapped. When children are abused, if someone comes to help them, they may cling to the person who is hurting them. These children do not like being hurt, but they want and need attention and love from their parents. They think the parent who is hitting them doesn’t love them. They think they are hit because they are bad, so they cling. In some cases, the abused child unconsciously identifies with his abusive parent. After all, the abuser looks powerful and invulnerable. Abused women may also feel trapped. They may lack money or a safe place to go, and they don’t want to leave their children. They may even be afraid to leave because they think the abuser will find them and hurt them worse. Today we know that there are many non-violent ways to punish a child or to disagree with adults. Violence is a choice people make. Only the abuser is responsible for this choice, and nothing a child or an adult victim does causes abuse. And, there is little a child can do to stop or prevent abuse. That is why there are services to protect and support victims of abuse. It is against church laws to cause intentional harm to any other person. Domestic violence hurts all areas of the church. Violence against women breaks the fifth commandment. It is a sin, a crime, and a serious social probl...
