Irma E. Garca
Puerto Rico is a Catholic Society by tradition, but there is an increasing number of protestant churches and some synagogues. On the Mainland, however, many Puerto Ricans become members of various Protestant churches (especially the Pentecostal Church). They seem to provide a preliminary sense of orientation recent migrant arrivals need, due to loss of traditional cultural bearings. Usually, as their needs change, their memberships to a particular church does too. In some instances they go back to their previous religion.
The religious institutions in New Haven have a dramatic impact on the political decisions of the community because they have the largest organized groups of people.
Although the religious institutions claim to be apolitical, the development of a civic conscience among parishioners seems to be a must in terms of political survival. As a result the religious representatives find themselves more and more involved in political decisions affecting the community as well as their parishioners.
Student Activities
Useful resources:
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1.
Commonwealth Government of Puerto Rico, Civil Liberties committee, La Libertad de Religion
, San Juan, 1959.
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2. Fitzpatrick, Joseph P.,
Puerto Rican Americans: The Meaning of Migration to the Mainland
, New Jersey, Prentice-Hall, 1971.
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3. Marden, Charles and Gladys Meyer,
Minorities in American Society.
New York
,
Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., 1968.
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1. Discuss the difference between the religious practice of Catholicism on the Island to that on the Mainland.
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2. Discuss the need of religious institutions for immigrants.
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3. Visit any of the local parishes.
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4. Bring a representative of a local church to your classroom.
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5. Discuss the results of the questionnaires (See below).
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