| Mercedes Olivera: Latinos want bigger voice in diocese 12/16/2000 By Mercedes Olivera / The Dallas Morning News Hispanics comprise nearly two-thirds of church congregations in the Catholic Diocese of Dallas.
But many of them say they feel they have no voice at the diocese, where only five of the 50 members of diocesan boards and committees are Hispanic. Only one of the five is not clergy. And none serves on the powerful Finance Council.
About 23 Hispanic community leaders expressed their dissatisfaction to Coadjutor Bishop Joseph A. Galante at a recent luncheon and asked him to appoint a committee to examine Hispanics' concerns.
Bishop Galante expressed his willingness to hear their complaints and acknowledged the lack of Hispanics on diocesan boards. But he said he could not speak for the diocese and create a committee or appoint Latinos to those boards.
Nevertheless, he agreed that there should be Hispanics and women on the Finance Council and said he feels the council could be expanded.
"I want to see more Hispanics on our committees and see that Hispanic businesses have opportunities to be bidders on diocesan contracts," he said. "Hispanics are a part of who we are."
He said he expects to see some changes on those boards at the beginning of the year. Nominations are being made.
Bishop Galante was appointed last year by Pope John Paul II to succeed Bishop Charles V. Grahmann upon his retirement.
What does Bishop Galante do until then? "Wait," he said.
But Hispanics have waited long enough, said funeral home owner Albert González and his brother, Frank.
They organized the luncheon meeting because of concerns they say they have about problems they encountered with managers of Calvary Hill Cemetery about four years ago.
Albert González said they tried to discuss the issue with diocesan officials but were rebuffed every time.
"There's no communication from the diocese," he said. "The diocese needs to be more inclusive. We feel Hispanics have been shut out."
Dallas attorney Adelfa Callejo also attended the luncheon meeting and said Hispanics shouldn't have to wait any longer for the diocese to be responsive to their concerns.
"The community's tired of being asked to be passive and silent," she said. "It's time the Catholic Church showed a good-faith effort."
She said she believes Bishop Galante "has to have the ear of Bishop Grahmann."
Others at the luncheon said they were still upset at the diocese's seeming lack of concern over the sale of St. Ann School. The Dallas City Council approved a historical designation of the school last year after a contentious battle between the diocese, which sought to sell the school property to developers, and St. Ann supporters, who sought to save the school.
But Bishop Galante said the diocese is trying to be more sensitive to Hispanics and is creating two new Hispanic parishes, Nuestra Señora del Pilar in Oak Cliff and Juan Diego in West Dallas.
Furthermore, he said, money from the diocese's inner-city fund is helping St. Mary of Carmel school in West Dallas and Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish near Love Field. Both are predominantly Hispanic.
When Bishop Galante assumes the leadership of the diocese, he said, "there'll be major changes."
Mercedes Olivera can be reached at P.O. Box 655237, Dallas, TX 75265 or at .
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