Our Identity as Hispanics and the Legacy of Christianity
From September 15 to October 15, Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated in the United States to recognize the achievements and contributions of the Hispanic American community in this country. According to the 2020 census, Hispanics represented 19% of the population, or 63.7 million people.
And who are we, Hispanics? Being Hispanic marks our ethnic origin as a social sign in which we share a similar history connected to our ancestors. In 1976, Congress passed a law requiring the government to collect and analyze information on a specific group: “Americans of Spanish origin or ancestry.” This includes all of us who have some origin in the 20 countries that speak Spanish as their native language, including Puerto Rico. One of the common legacies we have received is Christianity. Unfortunately, it was not suggested in the best way but rather by imposition, in what is known as the Doctrine of Discovery, a legal and religious principle of public international law at the time, which, with the authorization of the Pope and his bulls in the 15th century, allowed several empires, including Spain, to forcibly colonize peoples in Africa and America. Technically, it was not a discovery because there were already an estimated 50 to 100 million people living in the Americas. There were terrible abuses against the natives of the Americas and the peoples of Africa who were enslaved and sent to what were considered new lands. Domination and exploitation were directly related to what was considered European and Christian superiority, which, in the supposed name of God, came to bring salvation to savage peoples. However, there is no interpretation of Jesus’ message that remotely justifies such barbarity. In 2023, Pope Francis publicly repudiated the Doctrine of Discovery. Despite everything, in the midst of the pain and suffering of the past, God always shows his love and mercy through our lives, and his goodness knows no bounds. Today, Hispanics, the result of centuries of colonization and of mixed peoples, are wonderfully diverse in customs and traditions, with a mixture of European, Indigenous, and African influences. We should be proud of our origins and shared histories, because they have shaped who we are. Believing in Jesus of Nazareth as our Lord and Savior continues to be a significant characteristic among Hispanics. In a report by the Pew Research Center this year, 67% of Hispanic adults in the United States identify as Christians, which, is well understood, and is formidable in following the values of our Lord Jesus: unconditional love for others as ourselves, selfless service, forgiveness, the fight for justice and peace, always respecting and defending the dignity of each person because we have been created in the image and likeness of God. Dear brothers and sisters, let us continue to preserve the good things that bind us together as a social group, and let us continue to dream that each day we can be better. Rev. Israel Portilla-Gómez (He/him/his) is Associate Rector at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. 2222 E Tudor Rd, Anchorage, AK 99507. [email protected]. (907) 563-3341. Ext. 13. |