Churches fight violence with gun turn-ins, other safety efforts

Published: 2004-11-12

CHICAGO (CNS) -- In a period when murders dropped by more than 22 percent across Chicago, the police district that includes the city's Little Village neighborhood is on pace to meet or beat the 2003 total of 37 murders. Those statistics are challenging Epiphany Parish and other Catholic parishes in the neighborhood to step up their efforts to bring peace to a community torn apart by gangs, substance abuse and domestic violence. Father Peter McQuinn, pastor of Epiphany for seven years, arrived to find a parish already involved in advocating against violence. Since then, the parish has expanded and continued its efforts, both on its own and in conjunction with other churches in the community, including St. Agnes of Bohemia, Our Lady of Tepeyac and Good Shepherd. Each of the churches recently hosted a gun turn-in program over four weekends.

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