Hispanic Catholics Searching for God in U.S.

Interview With Father Pedro Nuñez of New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana, APRIL 30, 2005 (Zenit) - The largely Catholic Hispanic population in the United States is the largest ethnic minority in the country, making this group a special priority of the Church.

In this interview with us, Father Pedro Nuñez of the Archdiocese of New Orleans talks about the expansion of Catholicism in the United States through the immigration of Hispanics, now numbering almost 42 million, and what he sees will be the effect of the pontificate of Benedict XVI on the Latino population as a whole.

A native of Cuba, Father Nuñez has been working for three decades in New Orleans, where he has established and directs two radio and television programs.

Q: What are the main challenges facing the Catholic Church in the United States and, specifically, the Church of Hispanic origin?

Father Nuñez: The Catholic Church is facing several challenges. First of all, the great expansion of the Hispanic population in the United States means that a greater number of priests, including Hispanic, are needed to serve it. We are very few.

And the second issue is that we need to be far more sensitive both to the spiritual as well as the cultural needs of the Hispanic community.

Q: Is there a real expansion of Catholicism in the United States?

Father Nuñez: Yes, it is growing, but very especially because of the arrival of Hispanics in this country, as we are coming here with our Catholic roots.

Q: Can the Hispanic immigrant evangelize?

Father Nuñez: The immigrant is called to evangelize; he is called to take Jesus to other people as he has the same calling as any baptized person. Regardless of who the person, the call applies to all.

Q: What influence will Pope Benedict XVI have on the Catholic Church in the United States?

Father Nuñez: I think he will clarify much confusion that exists at present.

One of his favorite words is relativism. And relativism means that one can do whatever one pleases so long as one considers it to be good, without paying much attention to what the magisterium of the Church says.

This Pope is going to help us to define many things of a doctrinal nature. He will not only clarify concepts, but he will also help us to put them into practice.

Q: Can you mention one of these confusions?

Father Nuñez: A very important one is the confusion we are living in regard to the family. Another has to do with the Church's relationship with young people.

This Pope -- although much of the media refuses to acknowledge it -- is very connected and very interested in young people. Young Hispanics, especially in the United States, are in no-man's-land. They don't feel they are Hispanics, or Anglo-Saxons, or adults or children. They feel very marginalized.

I think this Pope is going to do much for young people, especially Christian young people, so that they have their own identity within the Catholic Church.

Q: What might be, in brief, the Catholic identity that young Hispanics must keep in mind?

Father Nuñez: To be strongly attached to the doctrine of the Church. Human beings today, particularly young people, are searching profoundly for God. The Pope is an extraordinary figure for unity and for making Christ visible on earth.

Q: Is there a new hope in the Catholic Church in the United States given Pope Benedict XVI's first meetings with Catholics from all over the world?

Father Nuñez: I think so, definitely. His very gentle face, his gentle ways, will bring the faithful closer to God. The world must experience the presence of Jesus, in a country and a world where God doesn't seem to count at all.

Q: And do Hispanic priests feel that they will have a close relationship with the Holy Father?

Father Nuñez: He is very keen on priests being true pastors, practicing their ministry as God ordains and the Church requests. He is going to ask great fidelity of priests.

He is also going to ask this of professors of Catholic universities: They must carry out the secular teaching that corresponds to them, but they also must begin to be faithful to the teachings of the Church. In this connection, we are beginning to see a rebirth of Christianity here in the United States.

Contact

Catholic Online
https://www.catholic.org CA, US
Catholic Online - Publisher, 661 869-1000

Email

info@yourcatholicvoice.org

Keywords

Hispanics, God, USA, Nunez, Ethnic, Minority

More Catholic PRWire

Showing 1 - 50 of 4,716

• « Prev
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• Next »

A Recession Antidote
Randy Hain

Monaco & The Vatican: Monaco's Grace Kelly Exhibit to Rome--A Review of Monegasque-Holy See Diplomatic History
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.

The Why of Jesus' Death: A Pauline Perspective
Jerom Paul

A Royal Betrayal: Catholic Monaco Liberalizes Abortion
Dna. Maria St.Catherine De Grace Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.

Embrace every moment as sacred time
Mary Regina Morrell

My Dad
JoMarie Grinkiewicz

Letting go is simple wisdom with divine potential
Mary Regina Morrell

Father Lombardi's Address on Catholic Media
Catholic Online

Pope's Words to Pontifical Latin American College
Catholic Online

Prelate: Genetics Needs a Conscience
Catholic Online

State Aid for Catholic Schools: Help or Hindrance?
Catholic Online

Scorsese Planning Movie on Japanese Martyrs
Catholic Online

2 Nuns Kidnapped in Kenya Set Free
Catholic Online

Holy See-Israel Negotiation Moves Forward
Catholic Online

Franchising to Evangelize
Catholic Online

Catholics Decry Anti-Christianity in Israel
Catholic Online

Pope and Gordon Brown Meet About Development Aid
Catholic Online

Pontiff Backs Latin America's Continental Mission
Catholic Online

Cardinal Warns Against Anti-Catholic Education
Catholic Online

Full Circle
Robert Gieb

Three words to a deeper faith
Paul Sposite

Relections for Lent 2009
chris anthony

Wisdom lies beyond the surface of life
Mary Regina Morrell

World Food Program Director on Lent
Catholic Online

Moral Clarity
DAN SHEA

Pope's Lenten Message for 2009
Catholic Online

A Prayer for Monaco: Remembering the Faith Legacy of Prince Rainier III & Princess Grace and Contemplating the Moral Challenges of Prince Albert II
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe

Keeping a Lid on Permissiveness
Sally Connolly

Glimpse of Me
Sarah Reinhard

The 3 stages of life
Michele Szekely

Sex and the Married Woman
Cheryl Dickow

A Catholic Woman Returns to the Church
Cheryl Dickow

Modernity & Morality
Dan Shea

Just a Minute
Sarah Reinhard

Catholic identity ... triumphant reemergence!
Hugh McNichol

Edging God Out
Paul Sposite

Burying a St. Joseph Statue
Cheryl Dickow

George Bush Speaks on Papal Visit
Catholic Online

Sometimes moving forward means moving the canoe
Mary Regina Morrell

Action Changes Things: Teaching our Kids about Community Service
Lisa Hendey

Easter... A Way of Life
Paul Spoisite

Papal initiative...peace and harmony!
Hugh McNichol

Proclaim the mysteries of the Resurrection!
Hugh McNichol

Jerusalem Patriarch's Easter Message
Catholic Online

Good Friday Sermon of Father Cantalamessa
Catholic Online

Papal Address at the End of the Way of the Cross
Catholic Online

Cardinal Zen's Meditations for Via Crucis
Catholic Online

Interview With Vatican Aide on Jewish-Catholic Relations
Catholic Online

Pope Benedict XVI On the Easter Triduum
Catholic Online

Holy Saturday...anticipation!
Hugh McNichol

• « Prev
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• Next »