Latinos reshaping U.S. Catholic Church

The influx of Hispanic immigrants to the United States is transforming the Roman Catholic Church as well as the nation’s religious landscape, according to a major study of Hispanics and faith released today.

The study, conducted by the Pew Hispanic Center and the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, found that many Hispanics practice a “distinctive form” of charismatic Catholicism that includes speaking in tongues, miraculous healings and prophesying — practices more often associated with Pentecostalism. Among non-Hispanic Catholics, these traditions are practiced by some but are not so widespread.

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“They are different in terms of beliefs, practices, language and culture, but they remain very Catholic,” (Roberto Suro, director of the Pew Hispanic Center) said. “The open question here is, does the institution adapt to them, or do they adapt to the institution?”