activism of the Catholic Church on immigrants' rights in the United States

Author

• Sandra Lazo de la Vega

Date of Award

2009

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Submission Date

October 2026

Abstract

This paper tests the religious economy model for predicting Church behavior which predicts that religious firms will become more politically active on behalf of potential members in areas where competition for those members is most fierce. An analysis of data from a survey of 106 U.S. Catholic dioceses and archdioceses on outreach to Hispanic immigrants does not support this hypothesis. Religious competition and Church activism on immigration issues did not correlate. Rather, demand for services (measured as Hispanic presence within each diocese) was a better predictor of Church activism on immigration issues. This finding suggests that the "inelastic demand" assumption of the religious economy model must be dropped, re-opening demand side explanations for Church behavior across national and local contexts.

Comments

by Sandra Lazo de la Vega.

Recommended Citation

Lazo de la Vega, Sandra, "activism of the Catholic Church on immigrants' rights in the United States" (2009). Harriet L Wilkes Honors College Theses 2003 - 2009. 133.
https://digitalcommons.fau.edu/etd_honors_1/133

Extent

v, 51 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm.

Identifier

461340384