Latinos & Religion

Changing Faiths: Latinos And The Transformation Of American Religion (2007)
The Pew study, called “Changing Faiths: Latinos and the Transformation of American Religion,” was based on more than 4,600 bilingual phone interviews and has a margin of error of 2.5 points. It found 68 percent of Hispanics describe themselves as Roman Catholic, while 15 percent are evangelical or born-again Protestants. Eight percent do not identify with a religion. One of the most stunning findings to researchers was the extent of Pentecostal practices in the Catholic church. Among Latino Catholics, 62 percent say the Masses they attend at least occasionally include displays of excitement and enthusiasm such as the raising of hands, clapping, shouting or jumping. The study also found that 51 percent of Latino Catholics attended Mass that at least occasionally included people speaking or praising in tongues, prophesying, receiving a word of knowledge, or praying for divine healing. Fourteen percent experienced or witnessed an exorcism, compared with 6 percent of non-Latino Catholics. “This is the Catholic response to Pentecostalism,” said Timothy Matovina, theology professor at the University of Notre Dame. “It’s very expressive and often talks about the power of God in daily life: how can God help me pay the rent or help my kids in school. In these services, people feel a more direct connection to God.” The study also found that for Latinos, religion and politics are intertwined. Some 66 percent of Latinos said religion influences their political thinking and 45 percent said political leaders do not express their faith often enough. Latino Catholics were found to favor Democrats over Republicans, 55 percent to 18 percent. But evangelicals who are registered voters split with 36 percent for each party. View the report at: http://pewforum.org/Changing-Faiths-Latinos-and-the-Transformation-of-American-Religion.aspx