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February 11, 2012

Home > 2009 > April (Web-only)Christianity Today, April (Web-only), 2009
Hispanic Groups Divided over 2010 Census
One group is urging a boycott while another group says Latinos should take part in the census.




Two prominent Hispanic Christian organizations are divided on whether Latinos should participate in the 2010 U.S. census, while U.S. Catholic bishops say it's in everyone's "best interest to be counted."

The National Coalition of Latino Clergy & Christian Leaders (CONLAMIC) is urging undocumented members of its churches to boycott the census until comprehensive immigration reform is signed into law. The group wants legislation enacted that provides a way for some 12 million undocumented persons to be legalized.

"Our church leaders have witnessed misuse of otherwise benign census population data by state and local public officials in their efforts to pass and enact laws that assist in the perpetration of civil rights violations and abuses against undocumented workers and families,"said the Rev. Miguel Rivera, chairman of CONLAMIC, in an April 19 statement.

But the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC) said "Latinos, regardless of faith or legal status," should take part in the census.

"For our communities, the benefits of participating in the census are essential to accurate representation, allocation of resources and to gauge how our community continues to grow," said the Rev. Wilfredo De Jesus, vice president of social justice for the NHCLC, in an April 23 statement.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops weighed in on the issue on April 27, saying it is partnering with the U.S. Census Bureau to encourage participation, including in communities traditionally difficult to count.

"It is in peoples' best interest to be counted," said the Rev. Allan F. Deck, executive director of the bishops' cultural diversity department. "This is how our country makes decisions about allocation of resources and local representation, regardless race or immigration status."



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Kaisen

May 01, 2009  12:27am

We went through the census debate 10 years ago, nothing has improved since. But tell me why is this article in CT?

Angelo Falcón

April 30, 2009  8:35pm

The US Constitution calls for a census of all inhabitants of the United States, regardless of citizenship status. Those who advocate the exclusion of undocumented immigrants from this count of the US population are advocating violating the US Constitution. This could bring a fine of up to $100. That's the law. From a Christian point of view, I think it would be wrong to consider any human being to be "illegal". The need is to treat everyone humanely and develop policies that held the citizens of the United States AND those who are here as immigrants, documented or not. The vicousness of the comments made above are un-Christian like and those making them should be ashamed, especially in citing God to make such bigotted points. I am sorry to see that Christianity Today would even post such racist comments.

Salero21

April 30, 2009  8:16pm

I am a Hispanic myself, but the term "Latino", over the years ran parallel with dubious behaviors. I’ve heard the term mostly as a form of racial bias and pride. There's never been a nation with a name that could have given rise to the adjective. Most of the people who use the term to self describe. To my knowledge, neither speak, read, or write Latin. They also appear ignorant of the fact that Brazilians can also be such. I’ve heard the claim that is because of the language. However the same, ignore the fact that among the languages evolved from Latin; the Romanian is one of them. So we have, 2 arguable facts. First, the Romanian language evolved from Latin. Second, the Brazilians, can also be "Latinos" if any. Remember Helio Castroneves in DWTS! He was ask if being Latin would help his dancing. The Coalition of "Latino" clergy IMHO need to get over themselves and start preaching, living according to a true Paradigm instead of superfluous labels like "Latinos".

Wyatt

April 30, 2009  7:48pm

Illegals are exactly that - illegals. I'm of Swedish ancestry. I can't just show up in Sweden and expect they will officially accept me into their country. There is no way I can get employment in Sweden unless I go through the proper steps to seek citizenship first. Why do illegals think they have a right to descend on our country and do whatever they want, including taking jobs from American citizens? They can temporarily work on a green card, and then commit themselves to the task of achieving citizenship. God does not honor deception and criminality.

Charitas

April 30, 2009  1:44pm

"Our church leaders have witnessed misuse of otherwise benign census population data by state and local public officials in their efforts to pass and enact laws that assist in the perpetration of civil rights violations and abuses against undocumented workers and families,"said the Rev. Miguel Rivera, chairman of CONLAMIC, in an April 19 statement. Are we to understand that there are "civil rights" with regards to census data on illegals? This is like saying we should count everyone who lives in our house including trespassers and burglars and give them family status. These aren't Samaritans, they are invaders with no shame and no regard for rules or customs. Has America gone crazy?

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