Census data forthcoming, but handwriting's already on the wall

The last major census data are now a decade old, but the 2010 census is now essentially done, and some big new data sets are expected on Tuesday of this week.

In 2000, there were 281,421,906 people accounted for in this country. Back then, it was shown that about 7 percent of individuals five years and older spoke Spanish at home. (See county-level map in PDF.) For the new data, that percentage is expected to jump dramatically. The American Community Survey (ACS) project of the Census Bureau has released some compelling numbers valid for the period 2005-2009 showing growth in this category. Added to that, consider this fact from ACS:

While the native-born population has remained the majority during this period, the foreign-born population has come to represent a greater share of the total population, increasing from 9.6 million or 4.7 percent in 1970, to 31.1 million or 11.1 percent in 2000. According to the 2009 ACS, 38.5 million of the 307 million residents in the United States were foreign-born, representing 12.5 percent of the total population.

Finally, this week The New York Times unveiled its "Mapping America" census exploration tool. It gives you demographic breakdowns of every county and census tract in the nation.

If we haven't asked the question well enough by now, it is now past time to do so, and at all levels: How equipped is The Episcopal Church to partner with Hispanic communities and churches as well as Spanish-speaking leaders and entrepreneurs among the faithful? We know that in some quarters, from seminaries to conventions to church structures, an honest effort has begun, and some deep and lasting relationships and ministries opportunities have arisen. How far-reaching and how effective has it all been? Does it measure up to the level of need? Can it ever?

Use this space to tell us who you are and what you're up to. We'd love to hear your thoughts.

Let us pray.

Padre nuestro que Estás en los cielos:
Santificado sea tu nombre,
venga tu reino,
sea hecha tu voluntad,
como en el cielo Así también en la tierra.

El pan nuestro de cada Día, Dánoslo hoy.
Perdónanos nuestras deudas,
como también nosotros perdonamos a nuestros deudores.
Y no nos metas en Tentación,
mas Líbranos del mal.

Porque tuyo es el reino, el poder
y la gloria por todos los siglos.
Amén.

Posted by Torey Lightcap on December 19, 2010 12:25 PM | |
Comments (4)

That is an interesting translation Torrey, where is it from?

Most of us in the Americas who are Anglican are used to the one from the Prayer Book.
(Pg 86, El Libro de Oración Común)

Padre nuestro que estás en el cielo,
santificado sea tu Nombre,
venga tu reino,
hágase tu voluntad,
en la tierra como en el cielo.

Danos hoy nuestro pan de cada día.
Perdona nuestras ofensas,
como también nosotros perdonamos a los que nos ofenden.
No nos dejes caer en tentación y líbranos del mal.

Porque tuyo es el reino, tuyo es el poder,
y tuya es la gloria, ahora y por siempre.
Amén.

Posted by Hermano David | Brother Dav•veed [TypeKey Profile Page] | December 19, 2010 5:00 PM

I think the phrase is just "the writing on the wall," not "the handwriting on the wall," unless it's important we know it's handwriting and not Linotype or a projected PowerPoint? :)

Scott Knitter

Posted by Scott [TypeKey Profile Page] | December 19, 2010 8:38 PM

The saying is based based on a story in the Bible about Daniel, who reads the handwriting on the wall that predicts the end of the kingdom of Babylon

Posted by Ann Fontaine [TypeKey Profile Page] | December 19, 2010 8:46 PM

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