Young Latinos are leaving organized religion at rates faster than any other group in the United States. With churches serving to bring communities together to act around shared ideals, declining participation in organized religion has a ripple effect into public life, weakening the social fabric, dampening civic participation, and contributing to deepening polarization.
The week before the midterm elections, when democratic participation is in the national spotlight, this Latino Leader Gathering examined the causes and consequences of this phenomenon, asking: What’s behind the wave of disaffiliation among young Latinos? Can it help explain some of the dangers affecting our public life? What forms of faith-based engagement in public life create dynamic communities of dialogue, and what forms drive people away?
The call to participate actively in one’s community is central to Catholic social teaching. Can the moral vocabulary of Catholic social teaching survive in the lives of young people who no longer practice other elements of their faith? Can it serve to share the Gospel with those who have moved away from the Church?
Christian Soenen, program manager of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life, moderated the conversation.
This gathering had three parts:
6:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Welcoming Happy Hour
Meet and network with other young leaders over food and drinks.
7:00 - 8:00 p.m. | Latino Leader Gathering
A conversation on “Disaffiliation and Disengagement among Young Latinos” with four leaders.
8:00 - 9:00 p.m. | Reception
Continue the conversation with other young leaders over food and drinks.
This Latino Leader Gathering was for young adult Catholics to come together to explore links between faith, Catholic social thought, and their lives and work, especially on public policy.
Resources
View articles and other resources for this dialogue.
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