Calvillo and Bailey

The article argues that religion and ethnicity are deeply connected for many Latino immigrants in the United States, but that different religious affiliations shape ethnic identity in different ways. Specifically, the authors claim that Latino Catholicism tends to reinforce ethnic identity and cultural retention, while Protestantism is more associated with cultural adaptation and “de-ethnicization.”

Main Summary

The article, “Latino Religious Affiliation and Ethnic Identity” by Jonathan E. Calvillo and Stanley R. Bailey, examines whether religion affects how Latino immigrants maintain their ethnic identity in the United States.

The authors focus on one major marker of ethnicity: Spanish-language use at home. Using survey data from the Pew Hispanic Center, they compare Catholic and Protestant Latinos. They find that:

  • Catholic Latinos are significantly more likely to continue speaking Spanish at home.

  • Protestant Latinos are more likely to shift toward English monolingualism.

  • Protestants are also more likely to prioritize religious identity over ethnic identity.

The authors argue that this difference exists because Catholicism in Latin America is historically and culturally intertwined with Latino ethnic traditions, while Protestantism often encourages believers to separate themselves from older cultural and religious customs.

Thus, religion is not just a private belief system — it actively shapes immigrant identity, assimilation, language retention, and connections to homeland culture.

Central Themes

1. Religion and Ethnicity Are Intertwined

The article’s biggest theme is that religion and ethnicity often reinforce one another. Religious institutions preserve:

  • language,

  • traditions,

  • symbols,

  • collective memory,

  • and connections to homeland culture.

For many Latino Catholics, religion functions as an ethnic institution, not merely a spiritual one.

2. Assimilation vs. Cultural Retention

The authors explore whether immigrant religious organizations:

  • preserve ethnic identity (“conservative role”),
    or

  • help immigrants assimilate into American society (“adaptive role”).

Catholicism tends to preserve ethnic culture, while Protestantism often promotes adaptation into broader American evangelical culture.

3. Inculturation

A major concept in the article is inculturation — the blending of religion with local culture.

Catholicism in Latin America incorporated:

  • local traditions,

  • Indigenous symbols,

  • national saints,

  • Marian devotions,

  • festivals,

  • and home altars.

This means practicing Catholicism also reinforces ethnic memory and cultural belonging.

4. De-Ethnicization

The article also discusses how some Protestant churches encourage believers to move away from ethnic traditions and focus on a universal Christian identity instead.

This process is called de-ethnicization.

The authors argue that many Protestant congregations:

  • downplay homeland traditions,

  • reject folk religious customs,

  • and emphasize personal transformation over cultural continuity.

5. Retrospective vs. Prospective Identity

The authors distinguish between two orientations:

Catholicism = Retrospective

Catholicism connects believers to:

  • homeland memories,

  • ancestors,

  • national traditions,

  • and shared historical identity.

Protestantism = Prospective

Protestantism focuses more on:

  • personal change,

  • future transformation,

  • individual salvation,

  • and universal Christian identity.

Key Terms and Definitions

Ethnicity

A shared sense of common ancestry, history, culture, and identity.

Ethnic Boundary

The symbolic line separating “us” from “them.” These boundaries can be strengthened or weakened through language, religion, and culture.

Inculturation

The process through which religion becomes deeply integrated into local culture through rituals, symbols, language, and traditions.

Example:

  • Virgin of Guadalupe devotion among Mexican Catholics.

De-Ethnicization

The removal or weakening of ethnic traditions within religious practice.

Example:

  • Protestant churches replacing ethnic customs with generalized evangelical worship styles.

Assimilation

The process by which immigrants adopt the language and cultural practices of the host society.

Ethnic Churches

Religious institutions serving a specific ethnic group and helping preserve cultural identity.

Ethnic Transcendence

The idea that strong religious identity can sometimes reduce the importance of ethnic identity.

The Authors’ Main Arguments

1. Catholicism Reinforces Latino Ethnic Identity

The authors argue that Catholicism acts as a cultural bridge to immigrants’ homelands because:

  • it is historically rooted in Latin America,

  • it incorporates local traditions,

  • and it values ethnic practices in the U.S. context.

As a result:

  • Catholic Latinos are more likely to preserve Spanish,

  • display religious objects in the home,

  • and identify strongly with their national origin.

2. Protestantism Encourages Cultural Reorientation

The authors argue that Protestantism often asks converts to break from older traditions associated with Catholicism and homeland culture.

Thus Protestant Latinos are:

  • more likely to prioritize Christian identity,

  • more likely to use English at home,

  • and more likely to assimilate culturally.

3. Religious Affiliation Shapes Assimilation Patterns

Even after controlling for:

  • generation,

  • English proficiency,

  • education,

  • church attendance,

  • and neighborhood composition,

religious affiliation still strongly predicts language use at home.

This means religion itself influences ethnic identity trajectories.

Answer to the Question

“Is it possible to disconnect the religious element of ethnic culture for immigrants to the US?”

According to the article, the answer is:

Yes — but only partially, and it depends heavily on the type of religion.

The authors argue that for many Latino immigrants, religion and ethnicity are historically intertwined. Catholicism especially functions as both:

  • a religious system,
    and

  • a carrier of ethnic memory, language, traditions, and homeland identity.

For Catholic immigrants, disconnecting religion from ethnic culture is difficult because:

  • religious rituals themselves contain ethnic meaning,

  • home religious practices reinforce national identity,

  • and Catholic institutions often support ethnic traditions in the U.S.

However, the article shows that Protestantism often creates that separation. Protestant converts frequently:

  • abandon older cultural-religious customs,

  • emphasize universal Christian identity over ethnic identity,

  • and adopt English more quickly.

So the article suggests:

  • Catholicism tends to fuse religion and ethnicity together.

  • Protestantism tends to separate them.

The broader conclusion is that religion can either:

  • preserve ethnic culture,
    or

  • help immigrants move away from it,

depending on how that religion relates to homeland traditions and identity.