Allenspark, Colo., Jul 25, 2010 / 02:29 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Members of the Catholic Association of Latino Leaders (CALL) gathered this weekend at St. Malo Retreat and Conference Center near Denver, Colo. to evaluate their first four years of existence and set new, ambitious goals for their future growth. 

CALL was founded in Denver in 2006, under the auspices of Archbishop Charles Chaput, OFM Cap., and by then Auxiliary Bishop Jose H. Gomez. Archbishop Gomez was recently appointed as Coadjutor Archbishop of Los Angeles.

Read the whole story here: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/catholic-latino-leaders-set-ambitious-goals-for-future/

US News.com mentions our call on Senator Reid to apologize for statement made in December:

"Of equal concern to Reid are the Latino voters in his state. They make up 13 percent of Nevada's population, and last year they were 15 percent of the voters there. Reid is expected to pursue legislation in the months to come, regardless of whether it has a realistic chance of passing. But he angered the Catholic Association of Latino Leaders in December when he compared opponents of healthcare legislation to racists who opposed civil rights."

To read the full article click here, US News & World Report

From the USCCB Website

Communities of color, immigrant communities traditionally undercounted
Census numbers key to determine allocation of public funding

Catholic Bishops Urge Participation in 2010 Census

WASHINGTON—Through the Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is partnering with the U.S. Census Bureau to encourage participation in the Census 2010, in order to reach hard-to-count communities. 

“By reaching out to more than 25,000 parishes and missions, we hope to trumpet the importance of being counted as well as channel interested persons toward employment as census takers,” said Beverly Carroll, assistant director for African American Affairs of the Secretariat.

Archbishop José Gomez of San Antonio, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Cultural Diversity, urged parishes and dioceses to encourage local people to participate. 

"It is important to get the word out because some of the populations we serve tend to normally be undercounted," Archbishop Gomez said. "Pastors have a responsibility to know their flock. The Church commends to bishops, priests and their many co-workers the care of all Catholics in their parishes and dioceses. The U.S. Census is a useful tool for learning about God's people, who and where they are, and many other facts that shed light on their lives, possibilities and struggles. A Church that seeks to evangelize is characterized by outreach. The U.S. Census gives us important information to do that."

The information gathered by the Census is confidential and only shared in aggregate numbers (statistics) once the surveys are completed.

Jesuit Father Allan Figueroa Deck, executive director of the Cultural Diversity Secretariat stressed the social and political urgency of being counted.  

“It is in peoples’ best interest to be counted,” Father Deck said. “This is how our country makes decisions about allocation of resources and local representation, regardless race or immigration status. Your participation is vital to insure that your community gets its fair share of federal funds for schools, roads, parks and other services.” 

The 2010 Census preparatory efforts are already under way through address canvassing and partnership recruitment. 

Approximately 140,000 census workers, hired from within each local community, will cover most neighborhoods to identify each residential address. This will help ensure that everyone residing in the United States receives a 2010 Census questionnaire. Combined with the use of new technologies, organizers hope the result of this effort will be the most comprehensive U.S. address list in existence. The Office of the Census Bureau has expressed the importance of community partnerships to raise awareness and increasing participation in hopes of gathering more complete data and offering a more accurate picture of each U.S. neighborhood.

“It’s easy, important and safe to participate,” said Cecile Motus, assistant director for Asian and Pacific Island Affairs of the Secretariat. “We are joining hands with other churches and community groups to encourage the participation and involvement of everyone in Census 2010 for the sake of our communities.” 

“We urge Hispanics/Latinos to make sure they are counted,” said Alejandro Aguilera, the Secretariat’s assistant director for Hispanic Affaires.  “At stake is congressional representation as well as the allocation of more than $300 billion annually in federal funds. We want to make sure the neighborhoods where we live get their fair share. It is also vital to get a more accurate picture of the diversity in the U.S. population,” Aguilera said.

A growing number of Catholic dioceses have already begun working with the Census Bureau.  

The newly appointed Archbishop of Milwaukee, Jerome Listecki, has not wasted anytime calling out so-called Catholic organizations that openly deny settled Church doctrines such as contraception.  Speaking specifically about an anti-life organization currently running advertisements in Wisconsin called "Young Catholics for Choice" the archbishop said, 

"While people can call themselves whatever they want, it is my duty as a bishop to state clearly and unequivocally that by professing and disseminating views in grave contradiction to Catholic teaching, members of organizations like ‘Young Catholics for Choice’ in fact disown their Catholic heritage, tragically distancing themselves from that communion with the Church to which they are called,” 

You can read the full story at Catholic.Org

A national task force commissioned by the University of Notre Dame launched a campaign Dec. 12 that seeks to enroll 1 million Hispanic students in Catholic schools by 2020.

You can read the full story here "Campaign to Increase Hispanic Catholic Schools"

Today, Saturday, March 20, 2010, the biggest issue facing America is the looming healthcare reform legislation that is to be voted on (ironically) tomorrow during Mass.  Many in the Media have made a point to suggest that the Catholic Church is "divided" in it's support of the current healthcare bill being promoted by Nancy Pelosi and President Obama because of its dubious language regarding federal funds being applied to abortion coverage.  This media frenzy has been induced because of the recent support from a group who allegedly represents 95%  (73,000) of religious sisters across the United States. This support would be in direct conflict with the recent statement made by Cardinal Francis George on behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops who adamately oppose the current bill specifically because it refuses to include the necessary language to protect and promote the sanctity of life. (You can read it here: USCCB statement on the current healthcare reform bill )  

Two Questions:  

1.  I wonder how the "72,000" out of "73,000" sisters actually feel about being lumped in with this organization of 1,000 nuns who have openly contracdicted the bishops and put countless unborn children at risk?

2.  Even if all "73,000" sisters did agree with contradicting the Bishops statements about this legistlation, do they even have a vote?

Let's hope that the sisters who support our Bishops will come out and set the record straight.

By: Zeus Rodriguez