The MS13 gang and the Pentecostal Church appear to be polar opposites. But some similarities unite them. Both demand rigid discipline and utter devotion. And, within their power structure, they both contain elements that perpetuate inequality, abuse and discrimination.
In this investigation, InSight Crime focuses on the stories of Elvis and Flaca, two former gang members who left the MS13 for the church. Their experiences with violence, abortion and homosexuality reflect both what divides and unites these two ways of life.
Gangsters and Preachers - The Culture of Sexism Inside the MS13
EL SALVADOR
/
15 JUN 2022
Chapter 1
The Gospel of Man, in Church and Gang
EL SALVADOR
/
15 JUN 2022
The MS13 gang and the Pentecostal Church are two worlds seemingly at odds. One man, known as Elvis, has a foot in both.
Chapter 2
The MS13 Will Never Be a Gang for Women
EL SALVADOR
/
15 JUN 2022
Flaca was devoted to the MS13. But after suffering violence, abuse and rape, she turned to the one escape open to her: religion…
Related Content
EX-FARC MAFIA
/
14 JAN 2017
At the end of every year, InSight Crime looks into the crystal ball and predicts what the big criminal risks…
BELIZE
/
7 AUG 2015
Top law enforcement officials from seven Central American countries met with the US Attorney General to discuss rising violence, drug-trafficking,…
ARGENTINA
/
9 APR 2014
Ten people have been convicted in an iconic human trafficking case in Argentina that first put a human face to…
About InSight Crime
THE ORGANIZATION
Environmental and Academic Praise
17 JUN 2022
InSight Crime’s six-part series on the plunder of the Peruvian Amazon continues to inform the debate on environmental security in the region. Our Environmental Crimes Project Manager, María Fernanda Ramírez,…
LA ORGANIZACIÓN
Series on Plunder of Peru’s Amazon Makes Headlines
10 JUN 2022
Since launching on June 2, InSight Crime’s six-part series on environmental crime in Peru’s Amazon has been well-received. Detailing the shocking impunity enjoyed by those plundering the rainforest, the investigation…
THE ORGANIZATION
Duarte’s Death Makes Waves
3 JUN 2022
The announcement of the death of Gentil Duarte, one of the top dissident commanders of the defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), continues to reverberate in Venezuela and Colombia.
THE ORGANIZATION
Cattle Trafficking Acclaim, Investigation into Peru’s Amazon
27 MAY 2022
On May 18, InSight Crime launched its most recent investigation into cattle trafficking between Central America and Mexico. It showed precisely how beef, illicitly produced in Honduras, Guatemala…
THE ORGANIZATION
Coverage of Fallen Paraguay Prosecutor Makes Headlines
20 MAY 2022
The murder of leading anti-crime prosecutor, Marcelo Pecci, while on honeymoon in Colombia, has drawn attention to the evolution of organized crime in Paraguay. While 17 people have been arrested…
#SupportFreePress
Support Our Work
Investigating organized crime is an expensive and often risky enterprise. Reaching primary sources and getting the real story involve extensive fieldwork. Please donate. Every dollar supports our mission.
DONATE NOW
Stay Informed with Weekly InSight
Get fresh updates on organized crime from across the region delivered to your inbox.
SUBSCRIBE