Latino Churches to Parishoners: Take the Census

The string of bilingual newspapers running through LA county (Eastern Group Papers) reports today that East LA churches are encouraging Latinos to take the census. In what may be the first instance EVER of the Catholic Clergy and the Luz Del Mundo agreeing on something, both churches are working to educate their parishioners about the importance of participating in the census. In fact, over 1,200 Latino churchers are pulling together on this one with a program called "We all count in God's eyes: Make yourself be counted." Catchy.

The paper quotes Los Angeles politicians on the consequences of not participating in the census:

On Tuesday, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa estimated that the city of Los Angeles has lost about $206 million in federal and state funding over the last decade because 76,800 Angelenos were not counted in 2000. Similarly, Los Angeles Councilmember Paul Krekorian (CD-2) said that for every 100 people that are not counted in this Census, over one million dollars could be lost that could be used to fund healthcare, child services, for community development block grants and for education.

The churches, however, are standing in opposition to Latino activist organizations (including one massive coalition of Latino churches) who are advocating a boycott of the census. The National Coalition of Latino Clergy & Christian Leaders (CONLAMIC) is urging immigrants to boycott the census until immigration law is reformed. Clearly, pastors on the ground in US America's most Latin American city disagree with that assessment.