The church has become the focal point of survival for people who live in these war-torn communities. But not even the church is safe from governmental wrath. There have been handmade bombs found in the rectory. Catecists have been shot in front of the church and the police said it was self-inflicted gunshot wounds even though we found 500 bullet shells. Twenty-four churches have been closed and only 40 are left.
Police protect the armies who destroy communities.
A catecist from one of the local parishes related a story to Cruz about how he witnessed rows upon rows of women tied by their ankles as they waited against their wills to be taken into a clinic to be sterilized. This was the ultimate stripping away of human dignity. But Cruz still remains hopeful that something positive will come out of the tragedy. We need to unite faith with life. The parish is trying to help people put their lives back together and overcome the loss of their identities.