The truth is that the Church in Latin America is in trouble - a deeper trouble than the Church in the United States. The Church in Latin America has long had a vocations crisis. Short of money, teaching materials and teachers of the faith, many Latinos end up poorly taught in the Faith and continue it in some form because it’s in their culture to do so.
The infatuation with Liberation Theology in Latin America has had a detrimental effect on the entire Church there.
The above statement is quite true. A lot of Hispanic protestants that I have met have gone through their conversion because of the incredible devotion that some Latinos have for the Virgin of Guadalupe. They have stated on many occasions that the veneration of this great Saint, as well as Juan Diego, is too great. They belive that the importance placed on Saints like these takes away from the importance of Christ himself.
I for one agree to a certain extent. Although I recognize these Saints as perfect examples to learn from in piety, humility, and obedience, I am one that has been taught HOW to pray for their intercession. Some people, not just Latinos, do not have this grace and proceed to ask for “things” such as help in troubled times. Once these “things” are granted and after much devotion and prayer to these Saints (with little mention of the name of Jesus that we hear vocally) they are instantly thanked and praised as the one who “solved the problem.” From the opinion of outside witnesses (in this case, Latinos in the community who are good with their Old Testament), it is the Saints themselves who do all the work, and there is no need for Jesus in one’s life. Along with these outsiders I agree that this is a very dangerous theology of Saints, but it is what is happening. People see other people bowing before staues and singing songs in praise for Saints like Our Lady of Guadalupe, Juan Diego, Saint Isidore, and Saint Jude, which is against the Evangelical / Pentecostal / Baptist teachings (graven images, “worshiping” other gods, etc.) that are being proclaimed in higher volumes in Mexico, Central and South America.
In my apologetic efforts to explain the difference between veneration and worship, as well as a host of other Bible verses, the truth is that the devotion that people have towards the intercession of Saints should, in fact, bring people closer to Christ. We are unable to look into the hearts of people and see whether this devotion is bringing them closer to Christ, but that is something that a lot of people don’t understand. Some merely dismiss this act as blasphemy and continue to build their “individual relationship” with Jesus on their own, when in reality its a universal community we are called to be, this side of heaven or the other.
