Monday, October 19, 2009

Latino churches front line of census battle - LA Daily News


Latino churches front line of census battle - LA Daily News:

"Storefront Latino evangelical churches in the San Fernando Valley and throughout California have become the front line of the 2010 Census battle to count the country's exploding, but elusive, immigrant population.

'We are no longer just about saving souls,' said the Rev. Aaron Morales, pastor of Christian Adonai Church in Van Nuys, 'but about counting them, too.'

Pastors such as Morales have emerged as prominent boosters of the upcoming census as traditional Latino leaders face increasing pressure from large U.S. Latino organizations and other religious clerics who are spearheading a census boycott to force Washington to deal with immigration reform.

Census proponents say millions of dollars in federal aid could be lost if millions of immigrants continue to go uncounted or undercounted."