[wintertime]

A rosary is not jewelry.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

It is impossible to know from the article the religious beliefs of this youth. His religion may be very syncretic ( a combination of pagan Mexican, South or Central American Indian beliefs and Catholicism.)

My husband and I speak Spanish and were asked by our church leaders to join the Spanish speaking congregation in our county. You would be **amazed** at what people believe.

[Travis McGee]

No doubt. I have some problems with “that” virgin on the center bit. Kind of a pagan/magical holdover, that now some of the worst criminals call their own.

[steve86]

Nice try but the Occam's Razor lex parsimoniae principle of simplest explanation that works is the right one: Gang Symbol. I am acquainted with quite a number of Hispanics around here. Although such a thing seems to exist in Mexico and Central America, I've never encountered a single resident of this area who was influenced on an on-going basis by syncretic beliefs.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

You would be **amazed** at what people believe.

And the people who believe those things aren't Catholic.

They just wear the tee-shirt.