What unites them other than a basic language? Is it possible to speak of one “Hispanic culture”?
It is not possible to speak of one Hispanic culture but it is possible to speak of one Hispanic presence. Twenty-one countries have sent immigrants to our land. They all speak Spanish; the overwhelming majority professes the Catholic faith; and they all share some common historical background. Today, in the U.S., we could clearly speak of one Spanish-speaking people with many cultural experiences. Has the Catholic Church in the United States responded adequately to the challenges and opportunities of the Hispanic presence? Have the Hispanics made an impact on the life of the Church in the United States? In the 1950s, there were three million Hispanics in the U.S. population. To Church leaders, this percentage was not considered to be a significant number. Immigrants were viewed more as transitional workers and not permanent members of the community. Today, according to the 2000 U.S. Census, there are 39 million Spanish-speaking official residents in the U.S. We have 30 bishops of Hispa
