Latino Catholics in the U.S.: The Hispanic MomentOn August 21, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) released data from a diocesan survey of Hispanic parishes and ministry in the country. The information from the survey will be used to launch the National Pastoral Plan for the Latin Ministry and its implementation over 10 years.
The survey highlights that 99 % of the nation's dioceses have several parishes that offer Mass in Spanish. These parishes serve the 27 million Latino Catholics, who represent approximately 40 % of the nation's Catholic population (67 million).
Notwithstanding this diocesan data, the reality differs at the local level, since of the 16,279 parishes in the country, only 28 % have Mass in Spanish (and/or bilingual), while only 17 % have "some type of Latino presence or apostolate". 55 % of parishes nationwide do not have an institutional or formally established Hispanic ministry (which does not mean that there is no Latino presence).
Differences according to the area
The data varies according to dioceses and areas. It is not surprising that the regions with border states such as Texas and California (which together with Florida, concentrate half of the Hispanic population) the percentage of parishes with Masses in Spanish is more than 80 %.
For example, in five dioceses in the state of Texas (Reno, Tyler, Laredo, El Paso and Brownsville), more than 90% of the parishes have Mass in Spanish. On the other hand, in four dioceses in California (Los Angeles, Fresno, Stockton and San Bernardino) this figure ranges between 83 and 89 %.
The survey also shows that there are dioceses in the Midwest and East where more than 50 % of their parishes have Mass in Spanish, such as Boise (Idaho), Arlington (Virginia), Memphis (Tennessee), Charleston (South Carolina), Charlotte (North Carolina) or Savannah (Georgia).
Fewer Catholics among Latinos
While the data seems encouraging (Catholics are the largest group among Latinos), the percentage of Hispanics who identify as Catholic has declined dramatically over the past decade as revealed by the Pew Research Center PRC. In 2022, "43 % of Hispanic adults identified as Catholic, down from 67 % in 2010. The proportion of Latinos with no religious affiliation stood at 30 % in 2022, up from 10 % in 2010," the PRC notes.
Oscar Cantú, bishop of San José and chairman of the Conference of Catholic Bishops' Subcommittee on Hispanic Affairs, said, "Surveys like this one are vital to understanding and addressing the Church's response to the needs and aspirations of our Hispanic communities.
The prelate noted that in addressing Hispanic ministry at the parish level, dioceses face common obstacles, such as a shortage of bilingual priests or limited human and financial resources in dioceses or parish communities.
Cantú added that the data will help "determine how we can continue to serve this sector of our Church and underscores the importance of an ongoing ministry to meet the needs of our Spanish-speaking brothers and sisters.
