Author Description

This report, the result in part of a series of hearings with Asian parents, educators, ministers, and many non-Asian Church leaders ministering to Asian communities within the United States, treats many aspects of educating and welcoming Asian groups into the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. The text includes a report on those hearings, which were held in several major urban dioceses between October 1989 and January 1990. The following six chapters offer information on specific areas: (1) "History, Culture and Religious Expression" contains brief descriptions of China, India, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, and Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos); (2) "Demographics" discusses statistical data taken primarily from the United States Census; (3) "Educational Considerations" discusses multiculturalism and approaches to cultural integration; (4) "Pastoral Structures" examines the traditional parish structure and several alternatives; (5) "Holidays, Celebrations and Religious Feasts" lists and briefly describes the holidays and religious celebrations of China, the Philippines, India, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Hmong, and Laos; (6) "Resources" provides an 84 item bibliography, a lists of resource centers, lists of catachetical materials, and brief descriptions of several Asian religions. (JB)