US Hispanic Catholics are future, but priest figures dismal
PHOENIX (AP) — Maria Chavira, an administrator that is senior the Diocese of Phoenix, says Spanish-speaking Catholic parishes in her area are “bursting during the seams” and celebrates the emergence of Hispanics since the biggest cultural part of the church nationwide.
Through the Southwest, in which the rise happens to be dramatic, Roman Catholic leaders are excited by the opportunities — and well conscious of daunting challenges.
Hispanics now take into account 40% of all of the U.S. Catholics, and a good most of school-age Catholics. Yet Hispanic Americans are strikingly underrepresented in Catholic schools plus in the priesthood — accounting for significantly less than 19% of Catholic school enrollment and just about 3% of U.S. -based priests.
Within the Phoenix diocese, you can find than 700,000 Hispanics away from a total of 1.2 million Catholics. Yet away from a lot more than 200 priests, Catholic scientists counted just seven American-born Hispanics. (más…)