Coordination with and training of religious leaders is an important component of a community response to sexual assault. Without an understanding of sexual assault, religious leaders may be ill-equipped to provide care and assistance to individuals who are experiencing an on-going crisis involving someone with whom they are in a caring relationship. They may not adequately recognize the lethality associated with domestic and sexual violence and focus instead on relationship issues. They might rely on traditional counseling techniques, such as couples counseling, that may increase the danger to the victim. They may not recognize the importance of keeping information shared by a victim confidential, thus putting the victim at increased risk of retaliation. At the same time, however, religious leaders are uniquely situated to help foster within their congregations an environment in which sexual assault and other forms of relationship violence can be discussed, thus encouraging women to come forward and seek assistance and support. From Carol J. Adams, "I Just Raped My Wife! What Are You Going to Do About It, Pastor"?: The Church and Sexual Violence, in Transforming a Rape Culture 57, 66-68 (Emilie Buchwald et al. eds., 1993).