Three teenagers aged 13 to 17 were cut down last week on Chicago’s South Side in a hail of gunfire that police believe was from an AK-47 assault rifle. Yesterday the “reverends” were out in force, calling for an end to the gun violence.

What did they ask for? Parents to take responsibility for their children and be more active in their lives? Another no-questions-asked gun buyback? An end to the “Stop Snitching” culture of the street?

Of course not! That would actually be productive and require work on behalf of the “reverends.” Instead, they told everyone to ask for God to intervene.

Rev. Robin Hood of Clergy Committed to Community walked with other ministers down South Exchange Avenue near 87th Street, stopping and offering prayer for community members.

“Only God can change this thing,” Hood said. “We’re not going away. This is not the last time we will be out here.”

Of course it’s not going to be the last time you’re out there. If you wanted it to be the last time you’d be out there, you’d ask for accountability of parents, get guns off the streets and start programs to get kids away from gangs and drugs.

But then fewer children might actually stop dying, and you wouldn’t be able to lure grieving parents and family members into your “church” as they seek answers to why violence had to touch their family.