Hispanics Complain of Discrimination in Chicago Archdiocese

February 5, 2001

Source: Chicago Sun-Times

On February 5, 2001, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that three employees of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago have filed complaints with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, saying they were discriminated against because they were Hispanic. "Their allegations include verbal harassment, intimidation, unfair working conditions and denial of resources. The women also filed gender discrimination charges...The problem has been discussed before...In an Aug. 16, 2000, memorandum...the Rev. Esequiel Sanchez, director of Hispanic ministry for the archdiocese, castigated the archdiocese for rampant discrimination." Sanchez wrote that "the absence of Hispanics in the archdiocese leadership has prevented the Hispanic community from even being informed as to the issues that affect all Catholics in the archdiocese...There is no avenue in which Hispanic Catholics can speak for themselves." As a result, he said, "We have lost countless Hispanic Catholics to other ecclesiastical communities or to disillusionment." Ethnic groups have complained about discrimination throughout the history of the archdiocese. "The archdiocese has made several public efforts to connect with Hispanic parishioners." One of the projects they plan involves "training Hispanic men for the priesthood. Chicago has only 15 active Hispanic priests." As part of another project, Cardinal Francis George and his closest advisers will undergo an intensive, 24-hour sensitivity training course.