Source: Chicago Sun-Times
On February 19, 2001, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that "more than 80 Roman Catholic priests who serve predominantly Hispanic parishes plan to meet today with Cardinal Francis George to discuss what some view as the failure of the Archdiocese of Chicago to meet the needs of Hispanic Catholics." Three Hispanic employees of the archdiocese recently complained of discrimination, and many more have complained that "the archdiocese isn't doing enough to keep up with the fast-growing Hispanic Catholic population in Chicago...One-third of Roman Catholics in Cook and Lake counties are Hispanic, according to the archdiocese, and in five years, Hispanics could account for 40 percent or more of all Catholics here. There are 15 Hispanic priests in the Chicago archdiocese, no Hispanic bishop, and no members of George's advisory cabinet are Hispanic." Among the concerns that have been raised are "a shortage of priests in Hispanic ministry; a need to help priests learn Spanish and understand Hispanic culture; how to obtain additional resources for Hispanic ministry, and how to have more Hispanic representation in the archdiocesan administration."