Catholicism and Hispanics
Although in my previous post, I gave praise for the article in the latest edition of Crisis Magazine concerning Eastern Catholics, I was very upset to read that it featured another article concerning the issue of Hispanic immigration into the United States. Sadly there's no link and only offers this short summary of the article:
Since I'm unable to read Burger's article, I can't address his arguments specifically. However, many people have argued along similar lines, that Hispanic immigration will serve to increase the influence of Catholicism within American society. Sadly, this is why many in the top leadership of the American Church has made many statements in favor of immigration.
Jim Kalb provides a very good critique of many pro-Hispanic immigration arguments in his commentary "Assimilation to what?". Kalb argues that many Hispanic immigrants(or their descendents) eventually adopt attitudes and practices known throughout American society(which are antithetical to Catholic teachings); thus destroying the argument that Hispanics will automatically re-evangelize American society.
Another interesting point made by Kalb is that the logic used by immigrant enthusiaststs within the Catholic Church actually violates long held traditions toward evangelizing cultures. As he explains:
Heading North: Can Hispanic Immigration Restore America’s Christian Culture?The issue of Hispanic immigration and its effects is one that runs through every aspect of American life. Samuel Huntington's most recent book Who Are We , presents Hispanic immigration as a direct threat to America's national identity. But what about the Catholic faith?
John Burger argues that Hispanic immigrants can help re-evangelize America…if the Church will let them.
Since I'm unable to read Burger's article, I can't address his arguments specifically. However, many people have argued along similar lines, that Hispanic immigration will serve to increase the influence of Catholicism within American society. Sadly, this is why many in the top leadership of the American Church has made many statements in favor of immigration.
Jim Kalb provides a very good critique of many pro-Hispanic immigration arguments in his commentary "Assimilation to what?". Kalb argues that many Hispanic immigrants(or their descendents) eventually adopt attitudes and practices known throughout American society(which are antithetical to Catholic teachings); thus destroying the argument that Hispanics will automatically re-evangelize American society.
Another interesting point made by Kalb is that the logic used by immigrant enthusiaststs within the Catholic Church actually violates long held traditions toward evangelizing cultures. As he explains:
"When Paul visited Athens, and found that the people weren’t Christians, he didn’t propose to remedy the situation by moving large numbers of Levantine Christians there. Instead, he tried to Christianize the people already there by persuading them of the truth of Christianity by reference to their existing concerns and understandings. Quite possibly he thought it was the genius of Christianity to transform peoples through conversion — thus letting grace perfect nature — rather than transform localities through invasion. Catholic leaders may want to consider the point."
posted by Perun at
2:47 PM
2 Comments:
Spot on, Perun! The evangelization of American society that is so desperately needed today will not be effectuated by hispanic immigation to the United States. True evangelization will only come about through the preaching of the Gospel and conversion of hearts. The idea that Latinos are somehow more naturally pious than native-born Americans is a falacy.
In addition, many Latinos who come to the United States quickly shed their Catholicism -- to become secularists or to become evangelicals. I've been on vacation in Alaska this week, and I have been stunned at the number of Latino evangelical churches in the Anchorage area. Secularized Latinos will not help foster Catholic evangelization, nor will evangelical Latinos, who have long left the Church that gave birth to their mother-culture.
Finally, when speaking of evangelization, it is important to note what one is evangelizing for. I do not mean to be rude or un-p.c., but there are elements of hispanic Catholicism that are in dire need of authentic reform. Santeria, superstition, and quasi-paganized practices will not help to strengthen the Church in North America or anywhere else.
Yes the rise of Protestant and Evangelical Christianity among Hispanics is an issue few American Catholics want to address or believe. So we really should be encouraging Hispanic Catholics to concentrate their focus on their own culture, while American Catholics can focus our efforts here at home.
Not to mention that there's wide-spread opposition to Hispanic immigration found among lay American Catholics. You can especially say that for TV commentators like Buchanan, Hannity, O'Reilly, etc.
Sadly this is not the first dissappointing article to come from Crisis Magazine. When they concentrate on faith and culture(which is what it's supposed to be about) they're very much on the mark, snd impressively so at times. Yet when they start delving into politics, you wonder if they're smoking crack!
Particularly hosting H. W. Crocker III's article "the Case for the American Empire". In fact Crisis is a staunch supporter of Neo-con adventures world-wide, and dresses it up as a geniune Catholic cause(of course ignoring the criticisms from the Vatican). It's chief editor, Deal Hudson, was a staunch supporter of Bush's invasion of Iraq.
This seems to underly the conflict between the Vatican and American Neo-con Catholics as Daniel McCarthy outlines in his article "Bush vs. Benedict" for the American conservative.
Oh and you have no worry about sounding "rude" or politically-incorrect, this blog is totally un-PC! ;)
Concerning quasi-paganism, I agree that maybe a problem. The old tradition of inculturation(adopting the faith to suit the customs of a particular culture) has really become corrupted by multi-culturalism over the years. Now we have to have priests dresseed up as pagan shamans so as not to "offend" the natives. Similar remarks can be said about Voodoo in Haiti.
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