New Study Gives In-depth Look at Factors Influencing Worldview of Hispanic-Americans

Contact: Christine Cape, ccape@demossgroup.com; Amy Huffman, ahuffman@demossgroup.com, 770-813-0000

NEW YORK, Nov. 14, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- A new study released today examines what influences the views of America's fastest-growing population group -- Hispanics. The study, "Hispanic America: Faith, Values & Priorities," reveals Hispanic-Americans' attitudes about faith, family and societal issues and gives insights into how their views will impact the political, social and economic climate in the U.S.

The study released today, conducted by Barna Group in partnership with American Bible Society, the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference and OneHope [hispanics.barna.org/thepartners/], found that:

• Seven out of 10 Hispanic-Americans (69%) think public schools should teach the values found in the Bible
   
• 54% identify themselves first as Hispanic or Latino before American, Catholic or Christian
   
• Hispanic-Americans are "very concerned" about school dropout rates (58%), immigration (53%), unemployment (57%), healthcare (54%) and housing (52%)
   
• 42% say the Bible influences their views of political and social issues; however, four out of ten Hispanics (43%) read the Bible less than once a year
   
• Hispanics believe the No. 1 way they contribute to American society is through their commitment to family
   
• 78% say the traditional family is the main building block of a healthy community
   
• When faced with a moral or ethical choice, approximately one-fourth (22%) of those surveyed make choices based on principles or standards they believe in say they should do; those standards were most commonly defined by their parents or the Bible
   
• 97% of those surveyed indicated they are proud of their Hispanic heritage

By 2050, it is predicted that there will be no ethnic or racial majority in the U.S. and Hispanics are projected to make up 25 to 30 percent of the population. Thus, the impact of beliefs and behaviors of Hispanic-Americans is becoming increasingly significant.

"Faith and family are the main building blocks of Hispanic-Americans," said Rev. Samuel Rodriquez, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference president and named by CNN as a leader of the Hispanic Evangelical movement. "Given the rapid growth of Hispanics in America, it is time to give more attention to this important segment of the American landscape."

Coinciding with the release of the report, Barna Group announces the creation of its Hispanic division. [hispanics.barna.org/thepartners/]

"The election was yet another indicator of the growing influence of Hispanic America," said Barna Group President David Kinnaman. "We think this group is so significant that we are creating a new division at Barna to take a deeper look at what this important demographic is really thinking about faith, values, churches and themselves."

The "Hispanic America: Faith, Values & Priorities" survey was conducted by Barna Group in partnership with American Bible Society, the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference and OneHope. A total of 2,046 interviews (1,044 online and 1,002 by phone) were conducted among Hispanics age 18 and older living in the U.S. in August and September 2012. For complete survey methodology, contact Christine Cape (ccape@demossgroup.com) or Amy Huffman (ahuffman@demossgroup.com) at 770.813.0000.