Latino Christian organizations and leaders aren’t sure…

Some organizations, like the National Coalition of Latino Clergy & Christian Leaders (CONLAMIC), say a boycott would serve as a way to bargain with the government for immigration reform. They want 12 million undocumented Latinos be granted status as legalized citizens.

Other groups, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, say it’s important to be counted in the census and that immigration reform activists should look elsewhere to make a statement.  The census helps the government determine how to allocate resources and determine representation.

The U.S. Constitution states that a census must be taken every 10 years to count all Americans (citizens or otherwise). CONLAMIC president Rev. Miguel Rivera retorts, “If they’re good enough to be counted, then they should be legalized. It’s immoral and dishonest to use them in order to slake our communities’ thirst for funds.”

There are around 10 million Latino immigrants in the United States. If the boycott catches on, a huge number of people could be missing from the 2010 census.

What do you think? Should Latino Christian organizations support the boycott?

Copyright 2009, Religion Transcends

Filed under: Christianity, Religion and Politics