保佑壞蛋
It is an open secret that triads have infiltrated the holy halls of religion, threatening not just the benevolent nature of the institution, but also the outward image of the faith.
神聖的宗教殿堂遭幫派勢力介入，相信許多人都有所聞，其不僅動搖善良風俗，同時有害文化形象。
benevolent(adj.)仁慈的、慈善的faith(n.)(某一)宗教;宗教信仰
Ex-Minister of Justice Liao Cheng-hao once issued an order to rid all temples and shrines in Taiwan of members of the underworld.
前法務部長廖正豪曾一度下令對台廟宇神壇進行全面掃黑。
rid…of… 清除=clear…of…
This situation is not unique to Taiwan. The Italian mafia, a criminal organization well-known internationally, also has its claws in religion.
不只台灣，國際知名犯罪組織義大利黑手黨也有勢力滲入宗教。
claw(n.)(鳥獸)爪;腳爪;掌控
Archbishop Pennisi, from Sicily, pointed out that the members of the underworld use religion as a foothold to secure their powers, as well as to further strengthen their organization’s hold over their territories.
西西里島潘尼西大主教曾指出，黑手黨成員利用宗教鞏固地位，強大組織控制力。
archbishop(n.)大主教foothold(n.)穩固的立足點territory(n.)地盤;領域=turf
What is it about religion that holds so much appeal for members of the underworld? There are three major factors:
到底宗教有什麼強大的魅力，吸引黑道盤踞呢？主要動機有三：
appeal(n.)吸引
One, for divine protection; a career that requires gang members to push conscience to the back of their minds prompts them to seek solace in “powers beyond our world.”
其一，為尋求神的祐助。泯滅良心的工作讓他們心理上依賴「看不見的力量」。
divine(adj.)神的conscience(n.)良心;良知prompt sb. to RV促使某人做…solace(n.)安慰;撫慰
Faced with the prospect of retribution and torment in the afterlife, they try to find comfort through prayers and confessions.
面臨報應和死後折磨的威脅，他們試著從祈禱和吿解中得到安慰。
Faced with...=While they are faced or confronted with...面臨到...retribution(n.)嚴懲;應得的處罰;報應=punishmenttorment(n.)折磨;痛苦=pain=sufferingconfession(n.)告解;懺悔
Two, for acceptance into the community; the gangs tap the soft power of religion to be accepted and become part of the local community.
其二，為爭取鄉里的認同。幫派組織藉由宗教的軟實力來接近與滲透民間。
tap(v.)利用=draw on=utilizesoft power軟實力
Three, for economic and political benefits; local temples possess a great many assets and followers; thus, to control a temple is to establish one’s position of prestige in a community, and with this position comes significant political and economic benefits.
其三，為謀求經濟和政治利益。地方廟宇擁有龐大資產與信徒，因此，能掌控廟宇就能在地方立足，也有一定的政治和經濟利益。
asset(n.)資產prestige(n.)威信;聲望
Furthermore, there are often illegal funds moving in the underworld, and one of the primary purposes of gangs taking over temples is to launder money using the cover of religious donations.
此外，黑金來路不明，利用宗教捐款洗錢也是主要目的之一。
primary(adj.)主要的=mainlaunder(v.)洗(贓款)money laundering洗錢donation(n.)捐贈;捐款
Even though some religious organizations are operating under the shadow of underworld powers, this darkness is still powerless to rob or steal the just and moralistic aspects of a faith.
雖然部分宗教場所遭黑勢力籠罩，但染不黑、帶不走的，是教育人心的正義面向。
even though(conj.)儘管;雖然operate(v.)經營;運作just(adj.)公正的;公平的;正義的moralistic(adj.)說教的;注重道德的
To devout followers, it would take more than a few gang members to corrupt their beliefs.
對虔誠的信徒來說，他們的信仰是不容被動搖的。
devout(adj.)虔誠的=piouscorrupt(v.)使腐化墮落、使道德敗壞