Supporting Survivors from Faith-based Communities Act

Key Points

• This bill would create a national center to help religious groups and abuse survivors. It provides training for clergy and lay leaders to recognize signs of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking within their congregations.
• The program would offer 2 million dollars in grants each year to organizations that help survivors. These groups must promise to put the safety of the victim first, even if it conflicts with keeping a marriage together or protecting a family's privacy.
• The center would address spiritual abuse, which is when someone uses religious beliefs to control or hurt another person. It also focuses on religious divorce denial, where a spouse refuses to end a religious marriage even after a legal divorce.
• Shelters and other service providers would receive training on how to respect religious needs. This includes providing specific types of food, respecting modesty rules, and making sure survivors have time and space for daily prayers.
• The law would strictly forbid using this federal money to try to convert people to a religion or promote specific religious views. The funds are only for helping survivors and training leaders on how to keep their communities safe.

Impact Analysis

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