Gallup Poll: U.S. Catholic Hispanic population becoming less religious and shrinking

[_Abyssinia]

As a hispanic from a hispanic city like Dallas, I can tell you from a very personal point of view of why Hispanics are becoming Protestants and/or atheist. Most Hispanics at one point or another have immigrated into this country whether legally or illegally, and a lot of them if not 100% of them came with a Catholic devotion. Unfortunately they got to the USA and they see how things vary and are different than their home countries. Were in a country were 33,000 Christian Denominations exist. A lot leave the Cjurcj bc the Catholic Church does not comply to their demands. They go to denominations that accept divorce, or say premarital sex is ok as long as you repent. Unfortunately many come to this country an try to Americanize themselves and forget about the traditions and history that their is back home. Many of us have seen how a person from a small town goes into a larger town and 90% of those individuals exploit themselves. They have more liberties and options. I think that is what happening to our ethinicity unfortunately.

My family is Mexican, and I know that and pray that God always keeps me a faithful Catholic. Having seen how our Virgin mother appeared to Juan Diego and presented herself in his cloth, I mean it speaks volumes. My girlfriend who is a Seventh Day Adventist says that in her hometown I forgot what year it was, but a volcano hit her hometown. The lava was spilling quickly into the city. Some faithful men put a statue of the Virgin Mary on a table outside hoping she helped. She said that were the table was placed with the Virgin Mary the lava stopped.

Our Church is truth, We were raised and taught to be Catholic, that should be something we take very serioulsy and with pride. A lot of our family members died in our home countries for the freedom our Church. Great example the Cristeros in Mexico. i just think its not our job but our obliglation to defend and fight for what our ancestors believed, cried, bled, and fought for when they fought for our Religion.

It speaks of a lack of catechises, because a person who is catechised would know that a Protestant Church does not have the full truth

Divorce rate in the Hispanic community is lower than the general population but the out of wedlock birth rate is high, again which speaks to a lack of catechesis

 

[Lucky7]

Well, this is what a 12 year old said to me (whose family comes from a Catholic country, but is now going to a Pentecostal church):

“The Catholic Church isn’t strict enough.”

Out of the mouths of babes.

 

[Lucky7]

You know I think this has nothing to do with politics and a lot to do with the more aggressive evangelizing by Evangelicals. These Hispanic Protestants are NOT Methodists and Presbyterians. They are Evangelicals, Baptists, Foursquare or join other Bible based local churches.

Exactly. THe perception of the Catholic Church is that it doesn’t matter what faith you are…all lead to God. I know that isn’t exactly what the Church teaches, but that is the perception and that is what most Catholics believe. If most Catholics believe this then there is no real reason to evangelize, now is there?

 

[LisaA]

Well said, Lisa. A friend of mine goes to Willow Creek, a well known megachurch in Chicago. They have quite a few ministries for people in all sorts of need, and I wouldn’t be suprised if they also had ministries to Hispanics.

I do know of a Catholic church in my city, not too far from my place, which does a lot of social justice work. They reach out to Hispanics, offering Confession in Spanish, having a director of Latino ministry, adopting a sister parish in Minneapolis which is racially diverse, etc. But the other 2 Catholic parishes I went to here didn’t have a specifically Hispanic outreach.

Willow Creek, that’s Bill Hybels right? Yet another way Evangelicals are able to access and spread the word…popular books. In fact anyone wanting to evangelize could do well to read Hybels “Just Walk Across the Room.” which has a step by step approach to sharing your faith…not obnoxiously but through a positive message and action.

The irony is that the Church is truly the best at “living faith” in the form of action, outreach, charity and care. We just aren’t very good at publicizing it!

We have some pockets of Hispanics in various cities and suburbs in this large metro area. The larger Catholic Parishes have a Hispanic outreach, Masses in Spanish and other direct contact. Our Parish is known to be very welcoming of all ethnic groups although too small to have a specific ministry. Our former Priest worked diligently at learning Spanish and Vietnamese as we have a number of Vietnamese parishioners too. One new family that joined drives extra miles because of this and told me that their former Parish was not very welcoming to other ethnic groups…they were Caucasian btw. I don’t know if this is common but something to be aware of.

I do agree with some of the other posters that the kind of happy/clappy mushy gushy “Jesus Loves You” emphasis with guitars and drums where church becomes another form of entertainment does appeal to some…we are trained nowdays to be passively entertained by all the technology rather than be actively engaged in the Word and with each other. It’s kind of scary
Lisa

 

[WildCatholic]

I wonder if some of it has to be the fact that a good amount of practicing Catholics are conservative, and sadly, some conservatives aren’t the biggest fans of Hispanics. Granted I see this attitude dissapearing among conservatives, but I think it still lingers. And who would want to go to a church where some people might think you are an illegal or simply came to this country for handouts.

I will say though most of it is simply ignorance. We just don’t catechize well. And it hurts that in Latin America they weren’t catechized well either

 

[ProVobis]

Yes, Heaven forbid that any political party would dare to be English-speaking. How audaciously “elite.”

FWIW, Spanish-speaking Catholics preceded English-speaking Catholics in the American continents. Why shouldn’t they take some pride in that? Latin was supposed to be the unifying language of all Catholics but it seems most Catholics are now opposed to that kind of unification. So we’re stuck with the devisiveness of the vernaculars and subcultures.

 

[chero23]

Exactly. THe perception of the Catholic Church is that it doesn’t matter what faith you are…all lead to God. I know that isn’t exactly what the Church teaches, but that is the perception and that is what most Catholics believe. If most Catholics believe this then there is no real reason to evangelize, now is there?

But Paul tells us constantly to get to God follow me, what we the Apostles have thought you. Their is only one church that teaches what the Apostles were sent out to teach and that’s the Catholic Church

 

[chero23]

Well, this is what a 12 year old said to me (whose family comes from a Catholic country, but is now going to a Pentecostal church):

“The Catholic Church isn’t strict enough.”

Out of the mouths of babes.

That’s ironic bc some ppl leave the Church bc of their stance on abortion,contraceptive, gay marriages, and divorce

 

[LisaA]

I wonder if some of it has to be the fact that a good amount of practicing Catholics are conservative, and sadly, some conservatives aren’t the biggest fans of Hispanics. Granted I see this attitude dissapearing among conservatives, but I think it still lingers. And who would want to go to a church where some people might think you are an illegal or simply came to this country for handouts.

I will say though most of it is simply ignorance. We just don’t catechize well. And it hurts that in Latin America they weren’t catechized well either

The above bolded is a COMPLETE MISREPRESENTATION OF CONSERVATIVE VIEWS. It makes me CRAZY. Conservatives are opposed to open borders, people taking advantage of our laws (anchor babies) and benefits (please do not tell me illegal aliens are not getting social services…that is utter baloney).

To draw an analogy…say someone broke into your home, ate the food you’d prepared for your family, gone through your closet and taken the clothing they liked and then drove off in your car. How would you feel about that person? Does it have ANYTHING to do with skin color or ethnic origin? No.

The reality is that we have a border with a country populated by those of Spanish and Native populations. A country with higher crime, corruption, and fewer opportunities. Thus it is understandable that people migrate from there to America. We don’t have to put up a fence between USA and Canada do we? Does this have anything to do with the population being majority Caucasian? NO.

Please quit mischaracterizing the concerns about border security, overstrained social services, schools and law enforcement with being anti-Hispanic. Skin color is not the issue.

That being said, as Christians we are to welcome the stranger and the Church has always stood strong to help the poor, the hungry, those in need of medical care. And without asking for ID. That is the role of the Church.

But don’t conflate the political philosophy of some Catholics (believe me there are PLENTY of liberal, if not Leftist Catholics in my parish and I bet in yours as well) with being bigoted toward a particular ethnic group.

Lisa

 

[chero23]

I wonder if some of it has to be the fact that a good amount of practicing Catholics are conservative, and sadly, some conservatives aren’t the biggest fans of Hispanics. Granted I see this attitude dissapearing among conservatives, but I think it still lingers. And who would want to go to a church where some people might think you are an illegal or simply came to this country for handouts.

I will say though most of it is simply ignorance. We just don’t catechize well. And it hurts that in Latin America they weren’t catechized well either

You know if somebody hates the Catholic Church or leaves the Church bc of what I did or you didor Father X did, then that person is ignorant. I cannot leave God bc what somebody else did.

My aunt is going through this issue with her husband. He doen’t like Catholics bc he has seen Catholic ppl do so many bad things. My aunt and him came to my house and she asked me how are things with your gf. i told her, oh my gf and I have to wfix our Religion issue.

I told my aunt (who is my mom’s sister) and her husband whose a Protestant, Evangelical I think, that my gf had invited me to see a speaker once at her Seventh Day adventist church, and the guy went off against the Catholic Church. I told my GF you told me that nobody in your church goes after other religions, yet your preacher did just that. I told her, either your lying to me, or if this was an isolated case, you should of gotten up and left. My gf responded by saying that I didn’t understand.

I told my gf, I have a cousin whose married and is in charge of couple group in the Church, I told her i don’t agree with what she teaches, but bc i don’t agree with what she says does that mean i have to leave the Church.

Its just sad and worrysome that ppl can leave the Church for what guy A,B, and C does. They gotta understand that when you die, you respond to your actions not those of Guy A, B, and C
I

 

[_Abyssinia]

The above bolded is a COMPLETE MISREPRESENTATION OF CONSERVATIVE VIEWS. It makes me CRAZY. Conservatives are opposed to open borders, people taking advantage of our laws (anchor babies) and benefits (please do not tell me illegal aliens are not getting social services…that is utter baloney).

To draw an analogy…say someone broke into your home, ate the food you’d prepared for your family, gone through your closet and taken the clothing they liked and then drove off in your car. How would you feel about that person? Does it have ANYTHING to do with skin color or ethnic origin? No.

The reality is that we have a border with a country populated by those of Spanish and Native populations. A country with higher crime, corruption, and fewer opportunities. Thus it is understandable that people migrate from there to America. We don’t have to put up a fence between USA and Canada do we? Does this have anything to do with the population being majority Caucasian? NO.

Please quit mischaracterizing the concerns about border security, overstrained social services, schools and law enforcement with being anti-Hispanic. Skin color is not the issue.

That being said, as Christians we are to welcome the stranger and the Church has always stood strong to help the poor, the hungry, those in need of medical care. And without asking for ID. That is the role of the Church.

But don’t conflate the political philosophy of some Catholics (believe me there are PLENTY of liberal, if not Leftist Catholics in my parish and I bet in yours as well) with being bigoted toward a particular ethnic group.

Lisa

Well said

 

[_Abyssinia]

abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/Politics/young-hispanics-leaving-catholic-church-protestant-faith/story?id=18598257

Young Latinos are joining Protestant, especially evangelical, churches for a variety of reasons. According to an NPR report, young Protestant Latinos prefer the more boisterous, musical services and less structured environment to more rigid Catholic masses.

One young man told NPR he wanted a personal relationship with God instead of having to rely on a priest as an intermediary.

Protestant churches have also done a good job of reaching out to Latino youth, particularly from poverty- and gang-ridden neighborhoods. They offer youth groups, bilingual services in English and Spanish, social activities and a place to hang out.

One line of the NPR report is telling. It says of one young man, “[H]e made friends first, and then got religion.” Many Protestant churches have accepted that path, but some young Latinos don’t see that as an option in the Catholic church.

Catholics have an established and successful tradition of helping the poor and caring for the sick and elderly, but some young people also view the faith as anti-gay and intolerant. Younger Hispanics, like other demographics, are more likely to be liberal than older generations and are more likely to chafe at the Catholic Church’s conservative stances on issues like abortion and gay marriage.

Many young Hispanics certainly await the announcement of the next pope in the face of Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation with anticipation, but a growing number feel disengaged from who occupies the Vatican next.

Some simply don’t feel religious. But Gallup points out that, since the number of Protestant Hispanics may increase in the years ahead and Protestant Latinos are more religious overall than Catholic Latinos, the level of Hispanic religiosity may actually go up in the coming years.

It just won’t be Catholic religiosity.

latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2013/02/26/us-latino-catholic-population-shrinking-less-religious-than-booming-protestant

But Catholicism isn’t necessarily losing followers to Protestants in droves, yet — the more urgent culprit for the five-year decline appears to be the growth in the number of young Latinos who have no religious affiliation at all. According to Gallup, 20 percent of 18- to 29-year-old Hispanics have no religious affiliation, fueling the decline in the number of Catholic Latino followers now and, perhaps, into the future.

---

Marilyn Santos, president of the National Catholic Network de Pastoral Juvenil Hispana (La Red), an association of Roman Catholic Church organizations and pastoral ministers committed to the evangelization of Hispanic youth in the United States, said assimilation into U.S. culture is partly to blame.

“They are following behind the footsteps of their non-Hispanic adults, choosing not to affiliate with any organized religion,” Santos said.

But assimilation isn’t necessarily a bad thing, Santos said. She believes the Catholic church needs to empower young Latinos to be the evangelizers, those that minister and preach to the dynamic growing Latino community. Young Latino evangelizers, she said, can better connect with their followers and help the Catholic church take notice of subtle cultural differences.

It’s as simple as the kind of music Latinos listen to in Mass, as well as the language in which they hear their sermons. Santos recalled visiting a national convention in which they translated Catholic songs into Spanish, “but beat-wise and melody-wise it just was so not Latino.” She said she believes a song entirely in English with a Hispanic rhythm would go just as far.

Santos also praised innovative national programs like Theology Untapped, created by Renewal International, which hosts guest speakers and talks for young Catholics at restaurants and bars with free food and beer.

 

[chero23]

latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2013/02/26/us-latino-catholic-population-shrinking-less-religious-than-booming-protestant

If young hispanic catholics are leaving bc they dont feel that translating the song from english to spanish is to Latino they have issues.

Ms. Santos made a good point, that a lot of latinos see Americans not affiliated to any Church. That’s were my point was earlier, we have to remember as hispanics what was entrusted into us. Our morals, beliefs, and our Church

 

[Cojuanco]

“Anchor babies”? Really? Safe to say there isn’t a Mexican conspiracy to have children born in the United States for citizenship purposes. Hispanophones have children because it’s what happens typically (or supposed to, anyway, but you all know what I mean in this forum) in a married couple, same as Anglophones. To say otherwise is irrational claptrap.

And maybe we wouldn’t be having this problem if our immigration policies weren’t out of the 1920s. Let me correct that, actually, as the 1924 act allowed Latin Americans and Canadians unlimited ability to settle here. The national quota is generally irrational, unless we somehow declared war on Mexico.

And I’ll stop criticizing the Arpaios of the world when they stop their execcive racial profiling policies.

And y’all are right in that the Church, and dare I say many conservative Catholics wouldn’t blink at aiding the undocumented. The problem is that they’re not the people John or Juanita see on the evening news. They see Rick Santorum (for all the other good he stands for) expressing doubts about PR statehood, or Joe Arpaio on his usual rants, and it makes it seem as if conservative Catholics have no place for the Hispanic person.

Is leaving the Faith because of what prominent Catholics do justifiable? Of course not, or I’d have left a long time ago. But it’s understandable why poorly catechized people would shy away from the Church if what they see is La Migra instead of the catechism class or the friar.

 

[WildCatholic]

The above bolded is a COMPLETE MISREPRESENTATION OF CONSERVATIVE VIEWS. It makes me CRAZY. Conservatives are opposed to open borders, people taking advantage of our laws (anchor babies) and benefits (please do not tell me illegal aliens are not getting social services…that is utter baloney).

To draw an analogy…say someone broke into your home, ate the food you’d prepared for your family, gone through your closet and taken the clothing they liked and then drove off in your car. How would you feel about that person? Does it have ANYTHING to do with skin color or ethnic origin? No.

The reality is that we have a border with a country populated by those of Spanish and Native populations. A country with higher crime, corruption, and fewer opportunities. Thus it is understandable that people migrate from there to America. We don’t have to put up a fence between USA and Canada do we? Does this have anything to do with the population being majority Caucasian? NO.

Please quit mischaracterizing the concerns about border security, overstrained social services, schools and law enforcement with being anti-Hispanic. Skin color is not the issue.

That being said, as Christians we are to welcome the stranger and the Church has always stood strong to help the poor, the hungry, those in need of medical care. And without asking for ID. That is the role of the Church.

But don’t conflate the political philosophy of some Catholics (believe me there are PLENTY of liberal, if not Leftist Catholics in my parish and I bet in yours as well) with being bigoted toward a particular ethnic group.

Lisa

Sorry, and I agree there are Conservatives who simply don’t want government services to be stolen. But where I live people tend to group all hispanics as illegals and i’ve heard outside of my church “Why don’t all them go back to Mexico” I’m sure most of them were GOP members. It just sickens me that these people think they are devout, yet don’t accept others .

I will agree though, we are to welcome the stranger and help those in need. Unfortunately I don’t see a lot of it. And I’m hardly a leftist social justice type. I just want God’s people to be taken care of

 

[chero23]

Sorry, and I agree there are Conservatives who simply don’t want government services to be stolen. But where I live people tend to group all hispanics as illegals and i’ve heard outside of my church “Why don’t all them go back to Mexico” I’m sure most of them were GOP members. It just sickens me that these people think they are devout, yet don’t accept others .

I will agree though, we are to welcome the stranger and help those in need. Unfortunately I don’t see a lot of it. And I’m hardly a leftist social justice type. I just want God’s people to be taken care of

See those ppl that you mention are those that jesus warned us about, their always at Church, but when Joseph and Mary were looking for shelter so that Jesus could be born, a lot of those individuals wouldn’t open the door, not even to God himself

 

[Lucky7]

That’s ironic bc some ppl leave the Church bc of their stance on abortion,contraceptive, gay marriages, and divorce

I know, but those that are going to certain evangelical churches are also against those things. So, again, I think it comes back to the perception of the Catholic Church (probably the result of poorly catechized Catholics or the large numbers of American liberal (aka “progressive” Catholics).

Edit: Not “not”, but “also”. I can’t even blame that one on lack of coffee.

 

[Ridgerunner]

As a hispanic from a hispanic city like Dallas, I can tell you from a very personal point of view of why Hispanics are becoming Protestants and/or atheist. Most Hispanics at one point or another have immigrated into this country whether legally or illegally, and a lot of them if not 100% of them came with a Catholic devotion. Unfortunately they got to the USA and they see how things vary and are different than their home countries. Were in a country were 33,000 Christian Denominations exist. A lot leave the Cjurcj bc the Catholic Church does not comply to their demands. They go to denominations that accept divorce, or say premarital sex is ok as long as you repent. Unfortunately many come to this country an try to Americanize themselves and forget about the traditions and history that their is back home. Many of us have seen how a person from a small town goes into a larger town and 90% of those individuals exploit themselves. They have more liberties and options. I think that is what happening to our ethinicity unfortunately.

My family is Mexican, and I know that and pray that God always keeps me a faithful Catholic. Having seen how our Virgin mother appeared to Juan Diego and presented herself in his cloth, I mean it speaks volumes. My girlfriend who is a Seventh Day Adventist says that in her hometown I forgot what year it was, but a volcano hit her hometown. The lava was spilling quickly into the city. Some faithful men put a statue of the Virgin Mary on a table outside hoping she helped. She said that were the table was placed with the Virgin Mary the lava stopped.

Our Church is truth, We were raised and taught to be Catholic, that should be something we take very serioulsy and with pride. A lot of our family members died in our home countries for the freedom our Church. Great example the Cristeros in Mexico. i just think its not our job but our obliglation to defend and fight for what our ancestors believed, cried, bled, and fought for when they fought for our Religion.

This rings a bell with me.

For a time our parish priest was a Hispanic…from Mexico. He did a lot of work among the local Hispanics. At one point he told me they had all kinds of problems that he was trying to get worked out. People who hadn’t been to confession in 20 years. People who had never been. People who had been cohabiting, then married to someone else, then just up and married somebody else. Lots of people approached him to actually get married…people who been together for decades and had children and grandchildren, but who had never actually gotten married.

Protestantism can be an “easy” religion because you can pick out the one that affirms you. You were married to some woman in Mexico, but are living with this one now? Get a divorce and marry this one, then. Besides, you’re “saved” now, so don’t worry about it.

It’s no wonder some of the people with those kinds of problems are very grateful to some church that purports to get them out of their moral dilemmas with a wave of the hand.

 

[LisaA]

“Anchor babies”? Really? Safe to say there isn’t a Mexican conspiracy to have children born in the United States for citizenship purposes. Hispanophones have children because it’s what happens typically (or supposed to, anyway, but you all know what I mean in this forum) in a married couple, same as Anglophones. To say otherwise is irrational claptrap.

And maybe we wouldn’t be having this problem if our immigration policies weren’t out of the 1920s. Let me correct that, actually, as the 1924 act allowed Latin Americans and Canadians unlimited ability to settle here. The national quota is generally irrational, unless we somehow declared war on Mexico.

And I’ll stop criticizing the Arpaios of the world when they stop their execcive racial profiling policies.

And y’all are right in that the Church, and dare I say many conservative Catholics wouldn’t blink at aiding the undocumented. The problem is that they’re not the people John or Juanita see on the evening news. They see Rick Santorum (for all the other good he stands for) expressing doubts about PR statehood, or Joe Arpaio on his usual rants, and it makes it seem as if conservative Catholics have no place for the Hispanic person.

Is leaving the Faith because of what prominent Catholics do justifiable? Of course not, or I’d have left a long time ago. But it’s understandable why poorly catechized people would shy away from the Church if what they see is La Migra instead of the catechism class or the friar.

Your first statement is utterly laughable. Ask any hospital on or near the border. FWIW there are Chinese flying into New York for the same purpose. This is a law that needs to be updated. As to their being married couples who just happen to be visiting when labor started that too is baloney. Many are single women who want to get a boost toward staying in America by having a baby on this side of the border. You are living in dreamland if you don’t believe this is the case.

Is Joe Arpaio a Catholic? That’s news to me. I didn’t realize he had a Roman collar and was speaking from the Ambow. Rick Santorum is Catholic again I do not hear of him being interviewed during Mass. So something about those in law enforcement or in politicis speaking out on law enforcement or political issues somehow morphs to represent the Church?

Really a lame argument, sorry but that dog don’t hunt.

Lisa

 

[chero23]

This rings a bell with me.

For a time our parish priest was a Hispanic…from Mexico. He did a lot of work among the local Hispanics. At one point he told me they had all kinds of problems that he was trying to get worked out. People who hadn’t been to confession in 20 years. People who had never been. People who had been cohabiting, then married to someone else, then just up and married somebody else. Lots of people approached him to actually get married…people who been together for decades and had children and grandchildren, but who had never actually gotten married.

Protestantism can be an “easy” religion because you can pick out the one that affirms you. You were married to some woman in Mexico, but are living with this one now? Get a divorce and marry this one, then. Besides, you’re “saved” now, so don’t worry about it.

It’s no wonder some of the people with those kinds of problems are very grateful to some church that purports to get them out of their moral dilemmas with a wave of the hand.

Our priest talks about this couple that had been together for some 70 yrs. Remained Catholic but were never married. The priest said that when they were at the man’s funeral(he was in his 90s I believe) the lady told the Priest to get them married. He responded by saying I can’t do it, hes dead. I told ya for a long time to do it but ya didn’t want to.

It is sad that we live in a society that ppl just go to a Church that fits their lifestyle. Its sad bc were basically saying that God dying for us was in vain, since were not listening to what God commanded us to do.