Religious Responses to Gang Violence in Central America – An Update Robert Brenneman, Saint Michael’s College

Religious Responses to Gang Violence in Central America – An

Update

Robert Brenneman, Saint Michael’s College

The Social Problem: Central America’s “New Violence”

• Motivated by economics and identity, not politics

• Higher levels of violent death than during most of the civil war years


The Gangs of Central America: From pandilla to mara

1. Youth street gangs date to at least 1970s

2. Latino gang members from L.A. arrived in San Salvador in 1992

3. Grew quickly, co-opted, networked local gangs

4. Approximately 30,000-65,000 gang members in the Northern Triangle

5. Recent growth of “imitation” gang violenceRobert Brenneman, Saint Michael’s College

Los mareros: The perfect scapegoat

• Mara Dieciocho (M-18)

• Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13)

• Vatos Locos

• White Fence


Government Responses

• Honduras (Maduro): cero tolerancia

• El Salvador (Saca): mano dura and super mano dura

• Guatemala: Joint military-police patrols

¡Hasta la morgue!

• Tightening of membership rules– Neftalí: “The only

way out of here is in your pine-box suit.”

– Attempt to exercise social control

– Response to “social cleansing”


Religious Context: Late 2000s

• Half or less identify as RC

• Vigorous competition among evangelicals– Pentecostal – Neo-Pentecostal– Mainline


“Barrio Evangelicalism” in Central America

1. Small congregations gathering frequently

2. Pentecostal forms of expression

3. Emphasis on healing

4. Strict, sectarian piety

1. Address each other as “hermanos”

2. Modest dress

3. No alcohol!


Evangelical Gang Ministries

• Tend to focus on “rescuing” gang members

• Use language of “restoration” and spiritual/social support

• Refer to gang violence as a “spiritual problem”

Evangelical Gang Ministries Offer: Tools to “reconstruct” identity

• Tight social networks of support

• Help with finding paid, legal work

• Time hoarding• Emotionally engaging

rituals• “Alternative

masculinities”• Help with avoiding the

“morgue rule”

The “evangelical exemption”

Vera (non-convert): “These days, the only way to get out [of the gang] is to get involved in the church one hundred percent. . .


. . . but the gang keeps watch over you day and night to see if you’re actually completing it.”

New Developments?

1. Multiple reports of failed or “faked” conversions

2. Reports that gangs have now closed all exits

3. Reports that some gangs now target evangelical ministries


Catholicism in Central America

• Considered “default religion”

• Liberationist groups in 1980s

• Continuing growth of Charismatic Renewal

Catholics Gang Ministries Offer:

• Job training• Human rights

advocacy• Prevention

Catholics Gang Ministries Offer:

• Job training• Human rights

advocacy• Prevention• Affordable tattoo

Removal

Religion of Interviewees


New Developments: Catholic leaders as mediators

2/19/2012: Press leaks “truce” between MS-13 and M18

Gang leaders announce moratorium on killing

Catholic Bishop (and Army Chaplain) Mons. Colindres and ex-FMLN Comandante mediate


New Developments: Salvadorans React

• 3/15/2012: Police announce 50% reduction in homicides

• Firestorm of controversy:– Who authorized?– Negotiation with

“terrorists”?


The Truce: Six months later

• August, 2012: Major news outlets pick up story (Time, NYT)

• Some U.S. experts question crime reduction

• Police report lower homicides but exceptions attract attention


The Truce: Six months later

• Guatemalan, Honduran gang leaders voice interest

• Mediators warn that truce is fragile

• Mons. Colindres: “We’ve begun down a historic path and we can’t go back now.”


Conclusions

1. Religious people and institutions continue to play a huge role in Latin America

2. Catholics and evangelicals have distinct cultural tools for addressing gang violence

3. Catholic church has distinct factions taking different approaches to social problems


¡Mil gracias!


Documents

Religious Responses to Gang Violence in Central America – An Update Robert Brenneman, Saint Michael’s College