{"id":40223,"date":"2026-10-20T18:05:54","date_gmt":"2026-10-20T23:05:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/esperanzaunited.org\/?p=40223"},"modified":"2026-10-22T10:34:57","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T15:34:57","slug":"faith-spirituality-and-domestic-violence-a-new-factsheet-for-latine-communities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/esperanzaunited.org\/en\/faith-spirituality-and-domestic-violence-a-new-factsheet-for-latine-communities\/","title":{"rendered":"Faith, spirituality, and domestic violence: a new factsheet for Latine communities"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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For many Latine families, faith shows up in everyday life: a prayer before a long drive, a candle lit for someone we love, a Sunday spent in community. For survivors of domestic violence, that faith can be a lifeline. It can also, in the wrong hands, become a tool for control.<\/p>

That\u2019s why our team created Faith, spirituality, and domestic violence, a research-based factsheet that brings together more than two decades of research on Latine communities, faith, and domestic violence. Here\u2019s what you\u2019ll find inside.<\/p>

Faith in Latine communities<\/strong><\/p>

Faith looks different across our communities. According to the Pew Research Center, four in ten Latinos in the United States say religion is very important to them, and 43% identify as Catholic. Younger generations are changing that picture: 49% of Latino adults ages 18 to 29 identify as religiously unaffiliated. Spirituality also lives outside of church walls, through connection to the land, holistic healing, and traditional healers like curanderos, sobadores, and yerberos.<\/p>

Faith as a source of strength<\/strong><\/p>

Research shows that faith can be a powerful protective factor for survivors. Religious coping is linked to a greater likelihood of disclosing abuse to friends or family (Sabina, 2012) and to greater social support (Gillum et al., 2006). Spirituality can help survivors manage their emotions, stay connected to their identity, and make meaning as they heal. When survivors seek help, churches and religious leaders are often among the first places they turn, offering a safe space outside the home, a part of safety planning, and referrals to other resources.<\/p>

When faith is used to harm<\/strong><\/p>

Faith can also be used to manipulate, control, or isolate. This is known as spiritual abuse, and it can happen in any religion or belief system. It can look like:<\/p>