This week, we take a look at matters of faith: should immigration reform advocates regain faith in President Obama as deportations drop? What can we expect from the new pope? An undocumented lawyer’s faith in the legal system pays off as he’s finally allowed to practice. Marlon Bishop takes an in-depth look at a Brazil-based megachurch. A mother tells a story about how she prayed for her babies. We talk with two writers about their thoughts on feminism and the Catholic Church. And we kick off our series of poets offering us a bit of sabiduría.
Maria, I appreciate your interviews and report on Sunday January 12. IT is a fascinating topic, especially in the Latino community. As I was listening to the segment on Feminism and the Virgin of Guadalupe, I was put off. It made me feel that there is a kind of assumption that all Mexicans are Roman-Catholics and that all Mexicans believe in the virgin as the gentleman who you interviewed. There is a constant message, intentional or not, in the media which depicts all Mexicans as if we were of one mind and accord. I am not Roman-Catholic. I respect, appreciate, and honor the Roman-Catholic tradition. So when I hear reports or read articles that depict only one side of the story I feel the need to remind people that there is a variety of Christian traditions that are part of the Mexican community.
In my opinion there should be a more balanced portrait of the Mexican community. WE need to help our non-Mexican and non-Latino neighbors that Mexicans cannot be put in a box, and discourage stereotypes. I can tell you, that many people assume that I am Catholic and that I believe in the virgin just because I am Mexican. I believe that a program like yours could provide a great opportunity to talk with and to talk about those who have a different religious tradition.
For instance, what would happen if you could invite or interview Professor Alicia Mayer to talk about her book “Lutero en el Paraiso.” In her book she tells about the other side of the story regarding the virgin and how the virgin was used as the weapon against the ideas of the reformation of the 16th century in Mexico. So people could hear both sides and understand that we are not a uniform community.
The report about feminism and the virgin tells us about the exemplary faith of the interviewee, but it tells only one side of the story and the identity of the Mexican community. I hope this comment is useful. My intention is to offer you some feedback that, hopefully, will help your program to go beyond and to be even better.