V Encuentro Proceedings and Conclusions

120 | Proceedings and Conclusions of the V National Encuentro of Hispanic/Latino Ministry VI. Ministerial Area Team • Episcopal Moderators: Most Rev. Dennis Sullivan, Bishop of Camden; and Most Rev. Richard Pates, Bishop of Des Moines. • Co-Leaders: Ivone Guillen and Estela Villagrán Manancero. • Panelists: Cristina Torres and Rev. Msgr. Arturo Bañuelas. 17. LATINAS IN CHURCH AND SOCIETY I. Vision Throughout history, but particularly in times of crisis, women have had an important role in bringing about healing, reconciliation, and also change in their communities. There are certain key concepts, rooted in Catholic Social Teaching, that illuminate opportunities, practices, and pathways for growth and development. It is important to consider both the significant obstacles and the needs Latina women face, and also the very important contributions they make to Church and society, highlighting avenues to enhance and extend their contributions in both settings. II. Social and Religious Context in Hispanic Ministry • Young Latinas have attained higher levels of academic education than their male peers, but often they still stay at home taking care of the children. There is a need to advocate for their greater participation in public and economic life, including in the Church where many are lay ecclesial ministers. • Latinas still face significant obstacles to educational attainment and, by extension, vocational discernment. • Parishes with Hispanic ministry lack adequate pastoral care and support that is specific for Latinas in diverse situations, especially in the need to support pastoral care and faith formation of Latina professionals. • There is generally a lack of theological and pastoral formation and support for Latina women to serve professionally in the Church. • One in five young women in the U.S. is a Latina. One in four female students in public schools across the nation is a Latina. By 2060, Latinas could form a third of the female population of the country, so the future of the nation is very much tied to the future of these women and girls. • Latinas are making significant progress. They have steadily increased in college degree attainment, and over the last decade they have increased their representation 30 to 40 percent in educational, legal, medical, and management professions. • Latina-owned businesses are growing at a faster rate than overall businesses headed by women, accounting for more than $71 billion in receipts in 2014. • Not all Latinas are faring as well. Latinas begin school significantly behind other females and without adequate resources and support, they are never able to catch up to their peers. • Although graduation rates are improving, Latinas graduate from high school at lower rates than most other subgroups; more than one in five has not completed high school by age 29. Latinas are also less likely to complete a four-year college degree by that age, at just 19% compared to 25%, 45%, and 67% percent of their Black, White, and Asian peers. 18 • About 22% of Latina women live in poverty and almost half below near-poverty levels. 19 • Work and family demands make higher education difficult to access and student debt unsustainable. 18 U.S. Census Bureau, 2016 American Community Survey. 19 Ibid. Ministerial Area Sessions