Pocho by Jose Antonio VillarrealMany people would say that being born Mexican means being born Catholic. This perpetuated stereotype has forced many Mexican families to raise their children as if no other religious options exist. In the book Pocho by Jose Antonio Villarreal a young boy named Richard Rubio finds himself raised Catholic by a traditional Mexican family. Richard, struggling to find his place in the world, is forced by his parents' religious beliefs to conform to a religion he doesn't agree with. Throughout the novel, the Catholic religious beliefs imposed on Richard affected his personality in many ways. By the end of the book it is clear that not allowing others to find their spiritual calling can have drastic effects on their ability to recognize who they are. Many of the spiritual problems that Richard addresses in the book are common to many Mexican children. Through the use of my personal experiences in a situation similar to Richard's, I intend to support my claim that forced beliefs can have harmful effects on a person. As soon as the main character Richard is introduced into the plot, we learn his beliefs about God before we even learn his name. Perhaps Villarreal, even so early on, tires of showing readers that in Mexican-American culture religion, especially Catholicism, plays an extremely important role. Riccardo brings home his image of the Virgin Mary, which he received as a reward for being the first of his age to learn the catechism which he keeps in his handkerchief. The Catholic Church has often rewarded people for their achievements in studying their religion in the hope that it will encourage them to remain Catholic. When I attended catechism I was always rewarded for perfect attendance. The idea that you will be rewarded for an accomplishment or participation may be a way for the church to make sure you are present every Sunday and behave. Richard claims the photo had little value to him but was a symbol of recognition. Surely he would go home and introduce him to his mother knowing that coming from the church it would mean a lot to her. Many times I would have done the same thing with my awards, proudly posting them on the refrigerator, not because they were worth anything, but because of the praise I would receive for it..