HIST 685B US Latinos and the Catholic Church
This course examines the history of Latino immigrants in the United States, focusing specifically on the role of Catholicism and the Catholic Church in their communities. We will discuss a variety of topics, including: the history of the Catholic Church in Latin America; the history of Latin American migration to the U.S.; Mexican migration and the Catholic Church; Puerto Rican Catholics in Puerto Rico and New York; the Cuban diaspora; transnational connections between immigrants and the religious life of their homeland; and the rise of Evangelical Protestantism in the Latino community. Through an investigation of these topics, students will arrive at a fuller understanding of the fastest-growing demographic group in the U.S. Catholic Church. As such, this course will be of interest to students of U.S. immigration, Catholic history, Hispanic ministry, and Hispanic and Latino culture and religions.