Latino Religions and Civic Activism in the United States

One of two book projects to come out of the Hispanic Churches in America Public Life project (HCAPL), this project seeks to examine the impact of religion on political and civic engagement in the Latino community. This volume presents sixteen new essays addressing important issues, personalities, and movements in Latino religions in America. The authors' purpose is to overthrow the longstanding stereotype that Latinos are politically passive and that their churches have supported the status quo, failing to engage in or support the struggle for civil rights and social justice. Individual essays explore such varied topics as "The Mysticism and Social Action of Cesar Chavez," "The Challenges of Being Latina, Catholic, and Feminist," "Hispanic Churches in Faith-Based Community Organizing," and "The Mexican American Cultural Center and the Politics of Cultural Empowerment."