Friar CAVAZOS GONZALEZ: In 20 years time, if I could dream, you know, I’d like to see 50, over 50 percent of the U.S. Catholic bishops being Latino.

[JUDY] VALENTE: What concerns the hierarchy right now is that many Latinos are being lured away to the passionate and emotional services in evangelical and Pentecostal churches. Some Latinos who want to remain Catholic also want the Mass to change.

MARTIN ENCISO (Congregant, Good Shepherd Parish, Chicago): We’re going to see a lot more life in church. I think life that’s been missing, because I mean a lot of people, at least a lot of people I knew growing up, said, “Oh yeah, I went to church. We just sat there. We kneeled, prayed.” Church is more than that. You need to feel alive when you go to church. This is the word of God.

[JUDY] VALENTE: There is little doubt about the growing political influence of the Hispanic clergy, especially in the now high-profile issue of immigration.

Friar CAVAZOS GONZALEZ: We expect that the hierarchy of the Church is going to advocate for the poor, for the marginalized, for the outcast, and right now a lot of the poor, the marginalized and the outcast are us.

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Filed under: * International News & Commentary • America/U.S.A. • * Religion News & Commentary • Other Churches • Roman Catholic

1. TACit wrote: Hmmm, no comments.  If I dare say it - could remarks and attitudes such as those expressed in the article demonstrate a new boldness now that a Democrat has been elected President, one whose family also represents a social minority group?  I think I mean boldness specifically to make claims for the rights this group thinks it should have in US society.  Isn’t it odd that having ignored their bishops’ concerted teachings and urging to vote their Catholic consciences and reject the candidate who will green-light abortion rights everywhere, along with other anti-Christian and anti-religious policies, that some Hispanic Catholics might now announce their hope that this same hierarchy will advocate for them because they are the poor and marginalized?  Do they completely fail to grasp that babies they abort, for example, are even more marginalized and outcast - quite literally cast out - than they themselves…...? However, I could be wrong, and the case may be that not one of these Catholics voted Democrat. November 30, 7:03 pm | [comment link]

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