The 50 Most Violent Cities in the World Are Mostly Catholic

Last Days Watchman ^ | Julio Severo

[juliosevero]

The 50 Most Violent Cities in the World Are Mostly Catholic

By Julio Severo

Business Insider reported a new ranking of the world's most violent cities, explaining that a full one-third of global homicides occur in Latin America, even though the region has just 8% of the world's population, according to UN data. It said,

"Drug trafficking, gang wars, political instability, corruption, and poverty contribute to the region's elevated violence. [This] ranking includes cities with a population of more than 300,000 and doesn't count deaths in combat zones or cities with unavailable data, so some dangerous cities might not be represented on the list."

This ranking does not include cities' religious predominance. But in this report, I will include it, because in Latin America religion has always been fundamental for its existence and inseparable from its national identity.

Most cities mentioned in this report are located in predominantly Catholic nations, according to The CIA World Factbook 2014, which reports the following religious predominance:

Honduras: Roman Catholic 97%.

Venezuela: Roman Catholic 96%.

Mexico: Roman Catholic 82.7%.

Brazil: Roman Catholic 73.6%.

Colombia: Roman Catholic 90%.

The United States, whose religious predominance is Protestant, is also represented in this report, with very violent cities. Coincidentally or not, all of these U.S. cities have a predominantly Catholic profile: St. Louis (predominantly Catholic), Detroit (predominantly Catholic), New Orleans (predominantly Catholic) and Baltimore (predominantly Catholic).

Here is the Business Insider report on the 50 most violent cities in the world:

1. San Pedro Sula, Honduras had 171.20 homicides per 100,000 residents.

2. Caracas, Venezuela had 115.98 homicides per 100,000 residents.

3. Acapulco, Mexico had 104.16 homicides per 100,000 residents.

4. Joao Pessoa, Brazil had 79.41 homicides per 100,000 residents.

5. Distrito Central, Honduras had 77.65 homicides per 100,000 residents.

6. Maceio, Brazil had 72.91 homicides per 100,000 residents.

7. Valencia, Venezuela had 71.08 homicides per 100,000 residents.

8. Fortaleza, Brazil had 66.55 homicides per 100,000 residents.

9. Cali, Colombia had 65.25 homicides per 100,000 residents.

10. Sao Luis, Brazil had 64.71 homicides per 100,000 residents.

11. Natal, Brazil had 63.68 homicides per 100,000 residents.

12. Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela had 62.13 homicides per 100,000 residents.

13. San Salvador, El Salvador had 61.21 homicides per 100,000 residents.

14. Cape Town, South Africa had 60 homicides per 100,000 residents.

15. Vitoria, Brazil had 57 homicides per 100,000 residents.

16. Cuiaba, Brazil had 56.46 homicides per 100,000 residents.

17. Salvador (and RMS), Brazil had 54.31 homicides per 100,000 residents.

18. Belem, Brazil had 53.06 homicides per 100,000 residents.

19. St. Louis, Missouri had 49.93 homicides per 100,000 residents.

20. Teresina, Brazil had 49.49 homicides per 100,000 residents.

21. Barquisimeto, Venezuela had 46.46 homicides per 100,000 residents.

22. Detroit, Michigan had 44.87 homicides per 100,000 residents.

23. Goiania, Brazil had 44.82 homicides per 100,000 residents.

24. Culiacan, Mexico had 42.17 homicides per 100,000 residents.

25. Guatemala City, Guatemala had 41.90 homicides per 100,000 residents.

26. Kingston, Jamaica had 40.59 homicides per 100,000 residents.

27. Juarez, Mexico had 39.94 homicides per 100,000 residents.

28. New Orleans, Louisiana had 39.61 homicides per 100,000 residents.

29. Recife, Brazil had 39.05 homicides per 100,000 residents.

30. Campina Grande, Brazil had 37.97 homicides per 100,000 residents.

31. Obregon, Mexico had 37.71 homicides per 100,000 residents.

32. Palmira, Colombia had 37.66 homicides per 100,000 residents.

33. Manaus, Brazil had 37.07 homicides per 100,000 residents.

34. Nuevo Laredo, Mexico had 34.92 homicides per 100,000 residents.

35. Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa had 34.89 homicides per 100,000 residents.

36. Pereira, Colombia had 34.68 homicides per 100,000 residents.

37. Porto Alegre, Brazil had 34.65 homicides per 100,000 residents.

38. Durban, South Africa had 34.48 homicides per 100,000 residents.

39. Aracaju, Brazil had 34.19 homicides per 100,000 residents.

40. Baltimore, Maryland had 33.92 homicides per 100,000 residents.

41. Victoria, Mexico had 33.91 homicides per 100,000 residents.

42. Belo Horizonte, Brazil had 33.39 homicides per 100,000 residents.

43. Chihuahua, Mexico had 33.29 homicides per 100,000 residents.

44. Curitiba, Brazil had 31.48 homicides per 100,000 residents.

45. Tijuana, Mexico had 29.90 homicides per 100,000 residents.

46. Macapa, Brazil had 28.87 homicides per 100,000 residents.

47. Cucuta, Colombia had 28.43 homicides per 100,000 residents.

48. Torreon, Mexico had 27.81 homicides per 100,000 residents.

49. Medellin, Colombia had 26.91 homicides per 100,000 residents.

50. Cuernavaca, Mexico had 25.45 homicides per 100,000 residents.

Because the overwhelming majority of these cities are Catholic, some questions are necessary. Why has not the Catholic religious influence been enough to protect these societies from pervasive social violence? Why has the Catholic Church in Latin America often embraced Liberation Theology to solve political, corruption, and poverty issues?

Christianity, in its New Testament format, was totally dependent on the Holy Spirit. There are God's promises that the transformational moves of Holy Spirit were not limited for the past, but they are also available for today:  

"And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy." (Acts 2:17-18 ESV)

The charismatic movement is a part of the fulfilment of this promise.

Yet, the Catholic Church in Latin America has frequently been much more open to Liberation Theology promises than to Bible promises about the transformational power of the Holy Spirit. Latin American Catholics have been also very open to syncretism with several forms of African religions like voodoo, Candomble and Santeria. Even in New Orleans, in the U.S., voodoo has been syncretized with the Catholic culture. Brazil, the largest Catholic nation in the world, is rife with Candomble, the Brazilian variety of voodoo, which is black magic. Is it a wonder that Brazil is more violent than nations in war?

Syncretism with African religions (which have been viewed as witchcraft by evangelical churches) is very old and widespread in Latin American Catholicism, especially in Brazil.

Despite these powerful dark inroads in the Latin American Catholic culture, the Catholic Church has been very limitedly open to the charismatic movement and especially to the power of the Holy Spirit against the witchcraft's powers.

In Catholic Latin America, witchcraft and Liberation Theology have helped promote violence, because their nature and spirit are demonic.

The Catholic Church in Latin America should seriously consider why she is less open to the transformational power of the Holy Spirit, why her members are more open to witchcraft and why her members and leaders are more open to Marxism.

With information from Business Insider.

Portuguese version of this article: As 50 cidades mais violentas do mundo sao quase todas catolicas

Source: Last Days Watchman

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Brazil: more violent than nations in war

[MHGinTN]

bingo, we have a bingo.

[caww]

One of the serious problems Catholcism has in going into other countries is often times, and more often then not, the culture will integrate their pagan belief system along side and within their worship....because the similarities are so often obvious to that culture.

In Haiti now a Voo-do Priest cannot become one unless he also becomes Catholic. They see Catholicism as increasing their Voo-do powers. The Catholic church leadership has been unsuccessful at best in deterring this and often simply ignores it.....the same in African countries and others where their are deeply held superstitutions .

But this is to be expected as Catholicism began to allow pagan practices within the church centuries ago with the barbarians.....then tweaked these practices in such a way as to claim them for Christianity as well.

[metmom]

The correlation between Catholicism and crime is obvious.

However, while one cannot say that Catholicism caused the crime, it is pretty obvious that Catholicism seems to have no mitigating effect on it.

For all Catholics like to accuse non-Catholics of living as they please, and sinning freely because they don’t have a religion which imposes restraint on them with the threat of hellfire and damnation, it seems that Catholicism, with those threads in place, is pretty impotent in restraining sinful lifestyles and behavior.

One can at least conclude that Catholicism is ineffective in reducing poverty and preventing crime.

[caww]

It’s really very sad that some have such difficulty defending their faith and simply go into attack mode, which will always reveal they are not interested in discovering truth. Like Muslims they are so brainwashed on their beliefs that ONLY by the Spirit of God can that blindness be removed, and only if they want to know the truth......,many do not......and thus why the Catholic Church today, and for many years now, has been seen as a Mission field.

[metmom]

Brazil should have been a wealthy country by now. The question is, why is it still a poverty stricken developing country, with extreme amount of violent crime? It has an abundance of everything necessary to evolve into a prosperous nation.

Same for Colombia. It's RICH in gold and emeralds.

It has a thriving cattle industry, grows beautiful flowers, has a great climate, beautiful scenery, other great natural resources, and is drug infested, crime ridden, and corrupt to the core.

It also should be very prosperous and rich, and isn't.

[caww]

....”One can at least conclude that Catholicism is ineffective in reducing poverty and preventing crime”.....

I don’t see that as their primary vision of what their aim is....rather a recruitment too used to maintain their membership. Muslims use the same tactic with their community centers....the volunteers may be sincere...but the leadership knows well the core reason for it’s outreach.

[caww]

By the way....there’s a difference between a church organizations outreach to bring people to Christ via helping the poor and reaching out to criminals....and that of doing so to bring the into church membership. One is to a relationship with Jesus Christ....the other is to join their church.

[metmom]

My point was that anyone who is truly following Jesus WILL have a change of heart and life. It’s the unavoidable fruit of a genuine relationship with Jesus. It can’t NOT happen.

Some people may be scared into behaving out of fear of the long term consequences, but behavior modification does not change the heart.

However, a changed heart ALWAYS changes behavior.

Religion cannot do that. A relationship can.

That’s why any religion is ineffective in preventing crime or immorality. It doesn’t change the heart. The people only go through the motions.

[caww]

I get your point...and you’re right....but it is difficult for people raised Catholic, who try to do what’s right and can often be good people, to realize they need a Savior because they follow and DO so many practices their church requires which gives them a ‘false’ sense of security.....though they may sense a void within themselves it’s often times self defeating as they simply TRY harder to meet the requirements....or do more of. It’s an endless cycle...sadly so.

Catholic teachings do not give the assurance of Salvation...in fact it forbids believing that as it’s basic teachings is a works based faith. ....which is also why the churches outreach has sooo many programs...it keeps the membership busy building their good works with the hope enough will at least get them as far as purgatory....(which is not biblical).......how very sad is that!

[Mom MD]

For a holier than thou RC your language is apalling

[Mrs. Don-o]

Amen, brother, a bazillion times Amen.

[Twink]

Bullshit.

You know nothing about Catholics and Catholic teaching and neither does your buddy.

What amazes me, in our time of strife, you people continue to fight Catholics as if they are the enemy when the world around you is imploding. Good luck with Islam. The peaceful Catholics, Mormons, Protestant denominations that you all slam daily and fear...are nothing compared to what our society is becoming and who are invading our way of life.

But you go ahead and worry about nonsense...as long as it makes you feel better in your ignorance bubble. You people, yeah you people, crack me up.

Catholics have the Savior. It’s you people who are wandering in a vast and shallow desert. You people talk about this stuff so much because you are so lost that the only thing you know is slamming others...some because they are fall away Catholics because a nun was mean to them when they were a child in CCD or because a priest ignored them or they had trouble in Catholic school.

If you people (yeah you people) worried about and were active enough in your own lives and your own churches or religion, you wouldn’t have time to worry about other Christians. You people are so lonely and sad that you have to fight those on your side because you don’t have the balls to fight those who want to kill you.

It’s not difficult for those us who are practicing Catholics because we know Jesus and we know the Truth. We also don’t spend our lives slamming the various Protestant denominations of Christianity because we know they are on our side.

I feel so sorry for people like you. I pray for you like I do all people. People who need to get a life, learn what Jesus actually taught, reflect.

You are a sad person and I hope you and others like you find the Way. But at the end of the day, I really don’t worry or care much about it. I’m not trying to slam you or convert you unlike you and your ilk.

Suggestion...try converting the ever increasing peoples from not western civilized countries who want to kill us. Oh that’s right, you don’t have the balls to practice what you preach.

KMA

[caww]

[caww]

Well you started on a rotten note.....which gave you away before reading any further...so no thank you.

[Mark17]

Catholic teachings do not give the assurance of Salvation...

That's too bad. I have assurance. I am sorry if others don't, but it is a beautiful thing. Hi XLT.

:-)

[Twink]

You’re a moron, lmao.

Keep living in your ignorant bubble. Posting on an internet message board thinking anyone who doesn’t live as you say they should, believing what you say they should, slamming Catholics (and yeah, I will fight back you moron) with made up stuff from your head or issues you have, pretending you make sense and thinking you can shut up people who actually know facts. Good luck with that.

People like you are the reason Christians fight against each other. You are a part of the problem.

Heh, your response is so on par with your agenda.Fight the practicing Catholic rather than fighting what is destroying our society.

I gave nothing away other than a distaste for people like you and I’m happy about that so you can again KMA. You’re a joke.

[metmom]

If you people (yeah you people) worried about and were active enough in your own lives and your own churches or religion, you wouldn’t have time to worry about other Christians.

And here you are, taking time to read the thread and post a response.

Backatcha.

[metmom]

Luke 6:45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

James 3:1-12 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

Thank you for your kind, loving, charitable words.

And those make me want to swim the Tiber for what reason again?

[Southack]

So that list of cities simply excludes Mogadishu, Beirut, Tripoli, Damascus, Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Sana’a?!

[metmom]

It’s awesome to know with certainty where we stand with God.