When asked by church reporters about the situation of the work among Hispanic people in the United States, the Rt Revd Onell Soto, Acting Director of Communications for the Anglican Communion, said the following:
Many of the people served by the Episcopal Church come from Mexico, the closest USA neighbour. Many come from the countryside and are employed in industry but mostly on farming. A substantial percentage only have elemental education. Like in most immigrant situations, more than half are young men. Normally, they are the ones who have the energy, the vision and the willingness to go out and search for better days for themselves and their loved ones. I imagine that many of them are undocumented.
Everyone of them has a story to tell. It is moving to hear their ordeals about crossing the border and the time when they said goodbye to family and friends, but their determination and desire to go forward is evident.
We have to understand that most of them suffer a lot, not only because they are away from their loved ones, but also because of the hard physical work they have to do, the colour of their skin and language barriers.
It is sad to hear about the treatment they receive by unscrupulous bosses. It is a witness to their generosity that they send home a substantial part of their earnings. This is quite a feat given that they earn only the minimum wage.
Furthermore, there is the uncertainty of their current irregular immigration status. They live in constant fear of being deported or being put in prison. It a vicious circle. They have to work so hard that they cannot study English and therefore cannot advance in their life aspirations. Probably if they could get a "living wage" rather than the minimum wage, this would certainly help alleviate their economic and social situation.
Loneliness is the constant companion of every immigrant. They not only miss their families and friends, but also their culture and the spiritual rites of transition like baptisms, weddings, graduations and funerals. Like all human beings these immigrants need to be treated with love, dignity, respect and compassion. Their seemingly sad faces are the result of centuries of mistreatment from people in power.
The Hispanic Ministry is probably the greatest missionary opportunity given by the Lord to the Episcopal Church. The mission is there, the need is evident and, I believe, we have the means. Unfortunately, what we lack is the "political will" to accomplish this sacred task.
Some bishops would say that these new immigrants "are Roman Catholics and their church ought to take care of them." In response to this I say that Jesus would never have said that. It is simply an excuse. No more than 10% of the people in Latin America attend any church, although many come from countries where Roman Catholicism is the official religion of the nation. Many lead secular lives with very little knowledge of the gospel and its implications.
The word stewardship is almost totally unknown in Latin American circles. It conjures up the imagine of a hacienda which is repellent to most people. They understand, however, that we all need to give to support the church. Furthermore, due to old historical traditions the governments have supported the church in Latin America. This "generosity" of the governments has kept the church silent and has fostered dependency. "Why should I give to the church when the government has much more money than I do?" has been a common way to reason their contribution to the church.
On the other hand what they give can be compared with the widow's mite. If what we give to the church must be proportional to what we earn, these poor immigrants give much more than we do!
This is a ministry that will have to be supported by outside sources for a long time until, through education, conversion and experience, and assimilation or integration, the members of this church can give enough to support themselves and the missionary work in other places.
In the future, the leaders of the Episcopal Church may come from these modest missionary beginnings.
Bishop Soto was born in Cuba, has served as a missionary of the Episcopal Church in Ecuador and El Salvador, and is the former bishop of Venezuela. He also served for 10 years at the National Office of the Episcopal Church. Although retired in Miami, Florida, he accepted the invitation to serve at the Anglican Communion Office for three months.