I’m a police officer, and though I don’t always agree with the bishops on immigration issues (I don’t always disagree either), I don’t believe that they share much or even any of the blame for gang issues. First of all, American politicians and government officials aren’t basing their decisions on what the bishops say. While politicians may sometimes pay token lip service to a bishop with whose statements they agree on a particular point, they generally don’t care what they think and are going to do whatever gets them the most votes. Secondly, many members of the Latino gangs in the US were born and raised here. Often the parents were decent upstanding people with no criminal affiliations, and their children became gang members despite a moral upbringing. Extreme poverty, a need to belong, a desire for protection or simply the glorified gang culture portrayed in movies are all motivating factors to become a gang member. The bishops are simply standing up for the value of all human beings, and I think the media often puts a more liberal slant on their message than what was originally intended.
Besides, everyone knows that the Boston Red Sox are responsible for all evil in this country, and should be immediately disbanded.
