The Hmong are brave and wonderful people. They suffered terribly, and continue to do so, because of their support for us during the Indo China war and their continuing devotion to the Lao Royal Family. I suppose its possible that these Hmong were Roman Catholics before they came here but I doubt it. Its likely they became Catholics after a fashion because Catholic Charities was so active in resettling them here in the States. I must say I wonder myself why they would leave the Roman Church for Episcopalianism. They are a very, very tribal and conservative group of people and frankly have had a tough time of it here in America, at least the older ones. One told me once that being here was like going to another planet. I doubt more than three or four in this group of converts have ever heard of that man Robinson over in NH or the trouble he has caused.
From what I understand, a large percentage of Hmong in the U.S., and perhaps a majority still in Southeast Asia, are Christian. They are divided between Catholic and Protestant (mainly Baptist and other evangelicals) according to their sub-tribal/language divisions from the homeland. Either White Hmong are Catholic and Green Hmong are Protestant, or the other way around :-).
It's possible that this group's change of church reflects the pre-existing denominational differences in the Hmong community.