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Columnas, 1970-1971
1971-05-28 ""La Raza"" Page 17
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-17- experienced by the people are the language barrier, poor church attendance because of the lack of priests or Sisters among them, a high divorce rate and a high number of teenage marriages. In addition, a talk was given by Rev. Ralph Ruiz, director of "Padres". He spoke of the great concern to have a Mexican - American Bishop for the Brownsville diocese and he explained the mobile team ministry that "Padres" is initiating. It is important that Sisters unite and work with "Padres" on issues affecting our people. During the conference those attending experienced the celebration of the "mariachi Mass", a beautiful and moving event. They also had a T. V. press conference which proved most interesting. Among the questions asked were the following: How many native Spanish-speaking Sisters are there in the U. S.? Are you going to be a militant group:? How is the Roman Catholic Church assisting your people? Why have you been so late in organizing? What do you hope to accomplish? Sister Lucinda and Sister Irene Munoz were also interviewed as to their impressions of the conference the contemporary dress that they were wearing and how it affected their apostolate. The flavor of the entire conference was one of hope, HOPE FOR THE CHICANO, the second-largest minority in the United States. The next conference is scheduled fore the Thanksgiving holiday in November. The location is not decide s yet. MARTINEZ TACO HOUSE 308 Harrison DAVENPORT, IOWA Best Mexican Food This Side of the River -TACOS -TOSTADAS -ENCHILADAS -TAMALES -BURRITOS ALSO AMERICAN FOOD Spanish Unit Voices Demand On Catholicism "The Catholic Church was not established to be our master, but rather to help us in serving our fellow man. In the Latin community it has failed drastically; therefore we demand that it fulfil its duty at the risk of becoming obsolete in our community." A group of Waushara County Spanish speaking people presented this declaration Friday to about 500 leaders of their people from seven states at a conference at the Sheraton-Schroeder Hotel. Father Pancho Oyarbide of Wautoma and Margarita Martinez of Coloma were its sponsors. It was one of many criticisms of the Roman Catholic Church in America, which leaders accused of neglecting the Latin American people, which is said to make up one-fourth of the nation's Catholic population. One of the sources of dissatisfaction expressed by several speakers, was the appointment of Bishop John Fitzpatrick as head of the Brownsville (Tex.) diocese, succeeding Archbishop Humberto S. Medeiros, now ARchbishop of Boston. The Spanish speaking people wanted one of their nationality in the bishop's chair since, and they said, 8 of 10 Catholics in the diocese are Mexican Americans. Rodriguez Protests Father Robert Rodriguez of Kenosha, who heads a Spanish center there, was one of several priests who telegraphed his protest in the matter to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. Father Reynaldo Florez of San Jose, Calif., regional director of the West Coast Office for the Spanish Speaking, said American Catholicism's attitude toward his people is "paternalistic" and "colonial." He said the campaign for Human Development, which recently raised more than $50 million to fight the roots of poverty, is a step in the right direction, but "not quite enough for La Raza" (the Spanish speaking minority). "We are included in the overall poor of the campaign. However, we need more than economic help, because this remains in the secular sphere, not in the religious sphere," Flores said. Self-Determination "We need self-determination there also. Self-determination in the church iltimately implies accountability to those below, to the people, not only to those above." Instead of seeing Spanish people dropping out, the Catholic church could change its attitude and see instead a surge of volunteers for church service, Flores predicted. "We would see more and more young men and women from our communities coming forward to assume positions of service within the church structure as deacons for example, and I dare say, as priests and nuns. "Because then they would be able to recognize it is their church also, not just somebody else's. "The Anglo has no corner on commitment to service. We can do just as well, given half a chance at full human dignity and respect and in our way." COLUMNAS is a Chicano newsletter dedicated to inform and instill cultural pride and arouse a spirit of unity among "La Raza" of the Midwest. Editors: Julio Guerrero Ernest Rodriguez Contributing Editors: Lauro Anthony Zavala Lucas Castillo
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-17- experienced by the people are the language barrier, poor church attendance because of the lack of priests or Sisters among them, a high divorce rate and a high number of teenage marriages. In addition, a talk was given by Rev. Ralph Ruiz, director of "Padres". He spoke of the great concern to have a Mexican - American Bishop for the Brownsville diocese and he explained the mobile team ministry that "Padres" is initiating. It is important that Sisters unite and work with "Padres" on issues affecting our people. During the conference those attending experienced the celebration of the "mariachi Mass", a beautiful and moving event. They also had a T. V. press conference which proved most interesting. Among the questions asked were the following: How many native Spanish-speaking Sisters are there in the U. S.? Are you going to be a militant group:? How is the Roman Catholic Church assisting your people? Why have you been so late in organizing? What do you hope to accomplish? Sister Lucinda and Sister Irene Munoz were also interviewed as to their impressions of the conference the contemporary dress that they were wearing and how it affected their apostolate. The flavor of the entire conference was one of hope, HOPE FOR THE CHICANO, the second-largest minority in the United States. The next conference is scheduled fore the Thanksgiving holiday in November. The location is not decide s yet. MARTINEZ TACO HOUSE 308 Harrison DAVENPORT, IOWA Best Mexican Food This Side of the River -TACOS -TOSTADAS -ENCHILADAS -TAMALES -BURRITOS ALSO AMERICAN FOOD Spanish Unit Voices Demand On Catholicism "The Catholic Church was not established to be our master, but rather to help us in serving our fellow man. In the Latin community it has failed drastically; therefore we demand that it fulfil its duty at the risk of becoming obsolete in our community." A group of Waushara County Spanish speaking people presented this declaration Friday to about 500 leaders of their people from seven states at a conference at the Sheraton-Schroeder Hotel. Father Pancho Oyarbide of Wautoma and Margarita Martinez of Coloma were its sponsors. It was one of many criticisms of the Roman Catholic Church in America, which leaders accused of neglecting the Latin American people, which is said to make up one-fourth of the nation's Catholic population. One of the sources of dissatisfaction expressed by several speakers, was the appointment of Bishop John Fitzpatrick as head of the Brownsville (Tex.) diocese, succeeding Archbishop Humberto S. Medeiros, now ARchbishop of Boston. The Spanish speaking people wanted one of their nationality in the bishop's chair since, and they said, 8 of 10 Catholics in the diocese are Mexican Americans. Rodriguez Protests Father Robert Rodriguez of Kenosha, who heads a Spanish center there, was one of several priests who telegraphed his protest in the matter to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. Father Reynaldo Florez of San Jose, Calif., regional director of the West Coast Office for the Spanish Speaking, said American Catholicism's attitude toward his people is "paternalistic" and "colonial." He said the campaign for Human Development, which recently raised more than $50 million to fight the roots of poverty, is a step in the right direction, but "not quite enough for La Raza" (the Spanish speaking minority). "We are included in the overall poor of the campaign. However, we need more than economic help, because this remains in the secular sphere, not in the religious sphere," Flores said. Self-Determination "We need self-determination there also. Self-determination in the church iltimately implies accountability to those below, to the people, not only to those above." Instead of seeing Spanish people dropping out, the Catholic church could change its attitude and see instead a surge of volunteers for church service, Flores predicted. "We would see more and more young men and women from our communities coming forward to assume positions of service within the church structure as deacons for example, and I dare say, as priests and nuns. "Because then they would be able to recognize it is their church also, not just somebody else's. "The Anglo has no corner on commitment to service. We can do just as well, given half a chance at full human dignity and respect and in our way." COLUMNAS is a Chicano newsletter dedicated to inform and instill cultural pride and arouse a spirit of unity among "La Raza" of the Midwest. Editors: Julio Guerrero Ernest Rodriguez Contributing Editors: Lauro Anthony Zavala Lucas Castillo
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