Religion and the organizational context of immigrant civic engagement: Mexican Catholicism in the USA

Abstract

This article complements emerging research on immigrant civic participation by examining how Catholic churches facilitate volunteer and political participation among first-generation Mexican immigrants. Drawing on interviews and ethnographic data, it identifies two reinforcing mechanisms that churches foster: small groups and organizational links. Specifically, small groups, like prayer groups, provide immigrants with intimate contexts for building networks, learning skills and sharing resources. On the other hand, churches cultivate links to secular organizations that sensitize immigrants to public debates and provide opportunities for civic participation. Put simply, church-going immigrants take advantage of broader civic opportunities because they gain resources and skills within small groups. Implications for understanding immigrant religion and civic participation more broadly are discussed.

Keywords:

• Immigrant religion
• civic engagement
• Latino/Hispanic

Notes

1. Throughout this text, I use pseudonyms to protect the names of interviewees, groups and institutions.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

G. Cristina Mora

G. CRISTINA MORA is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Berkeley.