Juarenses Turn To Faith To Cope With Deadly Drug War

By ABC-7 Reporter Darren Hunt

JUAREZ — The violence inour sister cityhas reached a new low with the recent murders of four children, including a three-year-old girl. Now, fed up with police and politicians,someare starting toturn to a higher power.

The front page of Monday’s PM news magazine said it all:”Three more minors killed.” This time, the victims wereteenagers and it appears no one in the city is safe.

“I came to church in the morning, I came to church in the afternoon, and both times it was full,” saida local Juarense.According to officials at the Juarez Cathedral, church attendance is up more than25 percent.

The city has established itself as the murder capital of Mexico and now it seems many are turning to religion to help them cope with the deadly violence they witness first-hand on the streets.

“People are scared,” said another Juarense outside the cathedral. During Sunday’s mass, Juarez Bishop Renato Asencio Leon addressed the recent killings of children. According to him, the bible says anyone who even considers doing harm to children would be better off committing suicide. The bishop asked all criminals and delinquents to respect the lives of innocent children.

“I thought what he said was good, because, why the children?” said another local resident referring to the recent killings of several teens. “The kids are not at fault.”

Many Juarenses ABC-7 spoke with refused to go on camera and those that did asked not to be identified. All, except David Ramirez, who works a local meat market. “It’s good the bishop said what hesaid because maybe these people will think about it,” said Ramirez. “There are babies in the cars that are being targeted and they’re going to kill an innocent life.”

Ramirezoften meets his sister and one-year-old nephew, Isaac, for lunch on the steps of the Cathedral. “They arethe future of Ciudad Juarez and we have to take care of the babies,” he said, still shocked at the death of a three-year-old toddler. Investigators said she was caught in a hail of bullets meant for her father last Thursday night.

Ramirez has witnessed his share of violence. “I hear the shots and when I hear them, I run,” he said. “People havebeen praying because they believe in God. They are going to be praying and praying to stop this violence.”

Faith, Ramirez said, is the only thing that can save Juarez. “The police, they’re blind and deaf. We can’t do it, not the people of Juarez. Only God is going to stop this.”

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