A Pomona sociologist who sees the Catholic...

A Pomona sociologist who sees the Catholic Church as an institution that has largely neglected the needs of its Latino parishioners is playing a key role in the first major study of the Latino religious experience in the United States.

Gilbert Cadena, assistant professor of sociology and Chicano studies at Pomona College, heads one section of a three-part study by the Program for the Analysis of Religion Among Latinos at the City University of New York. The study, to be conducted by sociologists, anthropologists and religious scholars, will examine three key areas of Latino religious experience: syncretism, the combination of sacred elements from pre-Christian beliefs with Christianity; popular religiosity, and Latino identity.

Cadena is organizing the section on identity. His specialization is the emergence of liberation theology as a means for social change in the United States. “Liberation theology challenges the institutional church and its traditional theology,” said Cadena, 35, a Los Angeles native. He discussed his work in an interview this week, relating the church and last week’s riots over the verdicts in the Rodney G. King case.

“I see the riots as a reaction to decades of institutional prejudice, discrimination and neglect,” he said. “The institutions are education, politics and the judicial system. The same kind of inequality exists in the Latino church.”

Cadena said his work has shown that although Latinos are fast becoming a majority of Catholics, the church hierarchy does not adequately represent them. “It’s the same for African-Americans, Latinos and Asian-Americans in other institutions,” he said. “The traditional power structure is not able to respond and a conflict arises.”

Though Latinos will comprise more than half the nation’s Catholics by the end of the decade, Cadena said, they are grossly underrepresented in the clergy. Of about 54,000 U.S. Catholic priests, only about 200 are Chicano. Of the 2,000 or so priests the Church calls Latino, about half are Spaniards, he said. Moreover, fewer than a dozen Latino Catholic theologians are teaching or writing full time at seminaries and research institutions.

Louis Velasquez, associate director of the Office of Hispanic Ministry of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, acknowledged the figures and said, “I don’t want to label it racism or discrimination, but there is still a level of insensitivity.”

He noted that especially in Los Angeles many Anglo priests “made a commitment to learn the language and culture of their parishes and live a Hispanic Catholic priesthood. Even some young Irish priests coming in are very good. But we need to make an aggressive effort to get Latinos into seminaries.”

In an article published in the Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, Cadena wrote that Chicano clergy feel that Chicanos do not have an adequate voice in Catholic social policy, that the church has discriminated against them and that it has not adequately responded to social problems they face, such as high dropout rates, gang violence and unemployment.

Cadena believes that the exclusion constitutes a crisis. In 1969, Chicanos demonstrated at St. Basil’s Church in Los Angeles over the closure of a Catholic girls’ high school and a lack of programs for Latinos in the church. Today, he said, Latinos are responding differently.

Consequently, he said: “A large percentage of Chicanos and Latinos have become nominal Catholics . . . who shun churchgoing but express their religiosity in family or popular religion.” Examples of popular religious practices include devotion to individual saints and the establishment of home altars. Other Catholics leave the church to become evangelical Protestants, he said.

A third trend experiencing growth in Southern California is liberation theology, named and first practiced by Catholic clergy and laity in Latin America in the 1960s and ‘70s. The movement encourages Catholics to organize politically to overcome poverty and work for justice. Cadena said that about 40 “base communities” committed to liberation theology were formed in the San Bernardino diocese in the mid-1980s. These are small groups that link the Gospel to social action. They gather for fellowship, but also to organize their communities to improve education and develop social services.

In Los Angeles, Cadena cites the Dolores Mission Church in Boyle Heights as a successful example of how liberation theology can work to fight gang violence and provide continuing education to the community.

The study, supported by a $257,586 grant from the Lilly Foundation, will continue through 1995.

SPEAKERS

Joanne Lordahl, author of “Beyond Motherhood,” will discuss myths about motherhood and women’s fulfillment May 17 at 11 a.m. at the First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles, 2936 W. 8th St. Free security parking is available. (213) 389-1356.

“Privacy vs. the Press” is the title of a panel discussion scheduled for Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Westwood Presbyterian Church. Panelists include Van Gordon Sauter, former president of CBS News; Mary Anne Dolan, former editor of the now-defunct Los Angeles Herald Examiner, and Bill Boyarsky, political columnist for The Times. Admission is free. The church is at 10822 Wilshire, Blvd., Westwood. (310) 474-4535.

“The Dead Sea Scrolls: New Perspectives for Christians and Jews” is the title of a lecture to be given by James A. Sanders on May 17 at 2:30 p.m. at Stephen S. Wise Temple. Sanders is professor of intertestamental and biblical studies at the Claremont School of Theology and is president of the Ancient Biblical Manuscript Center for Preservation and Research in Claremont. His talk is the second annual Lily Rosman Lecture of the Hebrew Union College Skirball Museum. Admission is free, but reservations are required. (213) 749-3424.

“Homosexuality and Judaism” is the topic of a talk by Rabbi Bradley S. Artson at the Long Beach Jewish Community Center at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. The free forum is presented by the Lesbian and Gay Havurah of the Long Beach Jewish Community Center, 3801 E. Willow St., Long Beach. (310) 426-7601, Ext. 31.

CELEBRATIONS

The aroma of souvlakia, the sound of bouzouki bands and the rhythm of folk dancing will highlight a Greek festival to be held May 16-17 from noon to 9 p.m. on the grounds of St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Anaheim. Greek food, souvenirs and entertainment will be offered. Continuous shuttle service will be provided from the May Co. parking lot at the Buena Park Mall. Admission is free. 405 N. Dale St., Anaheim. (714) 827-0181.

The American Friends Service Committee Pacific Southwest Region celebrates 50 years of service with an all-day gathering May 16 at First Friends Church in Pasadena. Eight workshops will be offered reflecting the theme “Faith, Risk, Change: Reflecting on Our Past, Visioning Our Future.” Workshops are free; the dinner that follows is $19 per person. 2540 E. Orange Grove Ave., Pasadena. (818) 791-1978.

The Master’s College in Santa Clarita, a Christian liberal arts institution, confers degrees upon 160 graduates today and awards 13 diplomas in its one-year Bible-institute program. The keynote speaker is Robert L. Vernon, former assistant chief of police of the Los Angeles Police Department. The public is invited. Admission is free. The college is at 21726 W. Placerita Canyon Rd., Newhall. (805) 259-3540.

Southeast Lutheran High School in South Gate celebrates its 10th anniversary May 16 at 3 p.m. An art and science show, an open house and speeches are planned. Refreshments will be served. The Rev. Charles Brady, one of the school’s founders, will officiate at a worship service. The school’s address is 8691 California Ave., South Gate. (213) 563-2225.

PERFORMANCES

A concert and choral evensong will be given by the Pasadena Boys Choir May 17 at 4 p.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church in Hollywood. A reception follows. Admission is $8, with discounts for families. The address is 7501 Hollywood Blvd. (213) 876-2102.

Santa Monica Emeritus College Gospel Chorus performs under the direction of Ineze Caston May 15 at 7:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Community Church. Refreshments follow. Admission is $6, $3 for seniors. Proceeds benefit the college music program and the church’s homeless project. The address is 1260 18th St., Santa Monica. (310) 823-5926.

Please address notices to: Southern California File, c/o Religion Editor, Los Angeles, Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053. To receive consideration, an item must be brief and arrive at least three weeks prior to the event announced.