Posted on 07/06/2009 7:43:52 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
The percentage of Hispanic Catholics in America has dropped, while the proportion of born-again Hispanics has increased, a new survey by the Barna Group found.
Over the past 15 years, the proportion of Hispanics in America that is aligned with the Catholic Church has fallen by 25 percent. By comparison, the proportion of born-again Christians for this ethnic group has increased by 17 percent.
“You cannot help but notice the changing relationship between Hispanics and the Catholic Church,” commented George Barna, whose company conducted the research. “While many Hispanic immigrants come to the United States with ties to Catholicism, the research shows that many of them eventually connect with a Protestant church.”
Moreover, many second and third generation Hispanic Americans are leaving the Catholic tradition, he noted.
The latest Barna survey studies the growing Hispanic population in America in terms of their faith and how they compare to the general American population. It finds that in a surprising number of key aspects the Hispanic population mirrors that of the nation’s general population.
Some of the significant similarities between the Hispanic and the general American adult populations include nearly identical profiles on the perceived accuracy of the principles taught in the Bible; a personal sense of responsibility to share their faith with others; belief that the primary purpose of life is to love God fully; the likelihood of having read the Bible in the past week; and having made a personal commitment to Jesus that is important in their life.
“The study points out how significant faith is in the lives of Hispanics,” Barna commented. “Not only do most of them assert that importance, but the fact that so much is changing in their faith perspectives and practices underscores how much energy they devote to their spirituality.”
But the study also found significant differences that exist between Hispanic Americans and the general American adult population.
Hispanics are more likely to believe that a good person can earn his or her way into heaven than the overall American adult population. This growing group is also twice as likely to be aligned with the Catholic Church (44 percent vs. 22 percent).
The ethnic group was also found to be less likely than Americans overall to claim that they are "absolutely committed" to Christianity (46 percent vs. 58 percent).
But when it comes to the born-again segments, Hispanics and the general American adult population showed few differences.
According to the Barna report, a born-again Christian is not based on self-identification, but rather on certain qualifications as defined by the Barna Group.
Survey results are based on telephone interviews conducted by The Barna Group gathered from nine nationwide random samples of adults. In total, 9,232 interviews were conducted between January 2007 and November 2008. Respondents were asked during the interviews if they consider themselves to be Hispanics. Out of the more than 9,000 people interviewed, 1,195 adults fell into the Hispanic category.
Honestly I’ve never been anywhere online that is so blantly anti Catholic as FR is and the biggest problem is the things they spout are the false thigns their churches teach them about Catholism. It’s a shame that they take someone else’s word for what Catholism is,I’d never expect that from Conservatives, but that is the way it is here. Pur church is seeing a large influx of white Lutherns and Episcopalians in the past 2 years. Most are very surprsed that what they were told about Catholism is much different than what the truth is. Sterotypes die hard I guess?
No debate of any kind is allowed on "prayer" or "devotional" threads in the RF. On threads labeled "caucus" only members of the caucus are to post - they are treated as if they are happening behind the closed doors of a church.
No antagonism is allowed on RF threads labeled "ecumenical."
If the "open" threads are uncomfortable to you, ignore them and post on one of the other thread types.
At the risk of becoming a football, so to speak, I can only reference my own situation.
Turns out the priest in my experience molested dozens of young boys, nobody knows the exact number. I only found out this year that one of my siblings had been molested as well.
But I do not damn the Catholic church, the Protestants, or any other clergy. I have known some fine men who are priests, they aren’t all child molesters as some like to say. That there is a problem is undeniable, but I think (as an ex-Roman Catholic) that the Catholic church has a more fundamental problem similar to the one Conservatives have...they are “going wobbly” on their beliefs, I believe the term is “Cafeteria Catholics”, and it could be just as well applied to “Cafeteria Conservatives”, but only in the sense that they cannot elucidate just what it is they stand for. At the risk of over-reaching on this, I am reminded of Ann Coulter’s remarks on conservatism, and I think it applies here as well (paraphrased)...If Conservatives don’t believe in smaller government, lower taxes, cutting spending, the right to life and strong national defense, well, what are they, just some group of people who encompass any variety of beliefs? I am sure someone could frame a group of questions regarding any religion, and that includes the Catholic church.
But I do not consider myself a Roman Catholic any more, and I will not presume to suggest to the Church or their followers how they should conduct their faith. That is their business, and if they believe it is the right way, I will not argue with them. If they believe, they will stay. If they don’t, they will leave.
As for pedophilia, I do not believe the Catholic church can sugar-coat the issue. I believe, based not just on my experience, that it is a serious issue. I cannot comment on homosexuality in the priesthood, but I do know that the majority of cases (mine included) do not include priests who molested little girls as well as little boys. It all seems to be directed towards the same sex.
This is just my opinion, and it has impacted and shaped many other opinions I hold in my life, particularly homosexuality. I do not admit to being open minded on that issue, as a result of my experience. I simply do not approve, and believe it is an abomination.
As a conservative, I believe that people (including homosexuals) can do whatever they like in the privacy of their homes, and it is none of my business or the government’s business. Once it is brought into the public and legal arenas, then it DOES become my business.
I’m not “uncomforstable” but I do think that the anti Catholic bigotry is allowed to flow a lot more here than anything else is allowed. I’ve got messages posted to me that were downright mean and demeaning and I thought that went way beyond debate.How can you tell what kind of thread it is? I only read the news area here and post in threads that appear there and I don’t rememebr ever seeing a distinction about what type of thred it is. By the way in case people are wondering I am a female chris not male.
If you do not wish to see RF posts, do NOT use the "everything" option on the browse. Instead, browse by "News/Activism." When you log back in, the browse will reset to "everything" - so be sure to set it back to "News/Activism."
RF threads are tagged by adding a word or phrase to the title, e.g. "[Catholic Caucus]"
Untagged threads are "open" by default.
For more on the Religion Forum, click on my profile page.
I do only use the News/Activism link? I’ve never touched any of the other links here?
One measure is presidential elections, Protestants vote republican, Catholics vote democrat.
That is ridiculous, a nation founded and created by Protestants and that was about 5% Catholic in 1840 and after 150 years of foreigners flooding in, including the millions of peasants walking in from the backwards nation of Mexico, is still only about 25% Catholic.
As Hispanics become Protestant, they start voting much more republican, so there is hope for the future.
Ted Kennedy and the liberal voters gave us the 1965 immigration act, but we can try to minimize the damage it does to us and our future.
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