B
bellasbane
Guest
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.
abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/Politics/young-hispanics-leaving-catholic-church-protestant-faith/story?id=18598257#.UVQ-6RfZ60s
My understanding it that evangelical protestants also oppose abortion and gay marriage, so that cannot be why these religious young people are leaving the Catholic Church.
The protestant evangelical revival style of worship is a powerful force. We need to counter it with an equally powerful response. Liturgies in the style of the Misa Criolla could make a big difference.
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.
abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/Politics/young-hispanics-leaving-catholic-church-protestant-faith/story?id=18598257#.UVQ-6RfZ60s
My understanding it that evangelical protestants also oppose abortion and gay marriage, so that cannot be why these religious young people are leaving the Catholic Church.
The protestant evangelical revival style of worship is a powerful force. We need to counter it with an equally powerful response. Liturgies in the style of the Misa Criolla could make a big difference.
