What is the Catholic churchs' view on gang violence?

Answer 1

A very good beginning is sociologist Frederick Thrasher's "The Gang", a study of 1,313 gangs in Chicago in late 1920's.

This is telling because most the gangs were of Catholic upbringing...doesn't mean that the Church condones gangs but gives you a flavor of what the mentality was. Sort of a 'two fer' if you will.

Below is a quote from the United States Council of Bishops:

"We cannot and will not tolerate behavior that threatens lives and violates the rights of others. We believe in responsibility, accountability, and legitimate punishment. Those who harm others or damage property must be held accountable for the hurt they have caused. The community has a right to establish and enforce laws to protect people and to advance the common good.

At the same time, a Catholic approach does not give up on those who violate these laws. We believe that both victims and offenders are children of God. Despite their very different claims on society, their lives and dignity should be protected and respected. We seek justice, not vengeance. We believe punishment must have clear purposes: protecting society and rehabilitating those who violate the law.

We believe a Catholic vision of crime and criminal justice can offer some alternatives. It recognizes that root causes and personal choices can both be factors in crime by understanding the need for responsibility on the part of the offender and an opportunity for their rehabilitation. A Catholic approach leads us to encourage models of restorative justice that seek to address crime in terms of the harm done to victims and communities, not simply as a violation of law."

On a personal note, my brother Andy was recently murdered in Milwaukee due to gang violence, drive by shooting --a bullet to his head. This occurred on Feburary 2, 2007. As a family that is devoutly Catholic we of course were and are grieving deeply for this loss and the way he was murdered, random, thoughtless, uncaring. However it is our duty as Catholics to care for those less fortunate than us. And frankly no better example than the man who has been accused of the crime of murder of Andy. Our family has offered Masses for the murderer, his family, his Mom and Pop. We understand the devastation is not just ours, it is his life, his family as well.

Many Blessings to you.

Answer 2

No, you have defective thinking and conclusions. Gangsters via definition are criminals, some are individuals of prepared crime and a large style of incorporate run from in the back of reformatory partitions. Gangsters have been depicted in American generic subculture in videos like the Godfather, conflict, Hell Up in Harlem and Goodfellas and in television such because of the fact the Sopranos. The Godfather helpful components Italians involved in drugs and hollywood. conflict is a pair of former CIA murderer who works for the eastern Yakuza and then the chinese language Triad boss Li Chang. Hell Up in Harlem is a blaxploitation movie. Goodfellas are on line casino gamblers, The Sopranos deals with the recent Jersey based Italiam-American mobster Tony Soprano. American cities do not hate one yet another. inner city violence is oftentimes approximately racism, drugs, gang conflict, territorial barriers, and the justifications are decrease in grownup mentors, college mess ups, decrease in after-college progams and comparable failure via adults interior the lives of toddlers. toddlers from poorer neighborhoods oftentimes turn to gangs as the two risk-free practices and a place to discover love and records. Police say 80% of crime with the aid of the country are dedicated via gang individuals.

Answer 3

They are opposed to it, except for the Little Rascals kind of thing.