Canonization this year for Bl. Junipero Serra

[Michie]

Catholic World News - January 15, 2015

In a surprise announcement, Pope Francis has disclosed that he plans to preside at the canonization of Blessed Junipero Serra this year.


Speaking to reporters who accompanied him on a flight from Sri Lanka to the Philippines on January 15, the Pontiff said: "In September, God willing, I will canonize Junipero Serra in the United States."


The Pontiff is scheduled to travel to the US in September, to attend the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. The details of the papal trip, including the other stops that he might make, have not been settled.

Blessed Junipero Serra, a Spanish Franciscan, established a string of missions along the California coast. He is the leading figure in the evangelization of California during the 18th century.

Pope Francis to canonize evangelizer of the Wild West (CNA)

 

[LivingWordUnity]

That's good news. It's been a long time in the making.

 

[HonestTruth]

Canonization of Junipero Serra?

As one who is catholic (note the small c), I question this move. After all, history shows that he resorted to the lash and other forms of torment in order to convert Native Americans. Many died and many others enriched by the stealing of lands under his watch. His actions were no less malevolent than the actions of antichrist Osama bin Laden. A Google search will show links to many proofs of this comment.

 

[Anhelyna]

Perhaps it might have been more charitable to say that you really did not agree with this .

Wiki doesn't 100% agree with your understanding either http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jun%C3%ADpero_Serra

You are in our home forum and are posting here as a guest.

 

[LivingWordUnity]

Modern history was written by the anti-Catholic Protestants and revised by the anti-Catholic atheists.

 

[Root of Jesse]

Canonization of Junipero Serra?

As one who is catholic (note the small c), I question this move. After all, history shows that he resorted to the lash and other forms of torment in order to convert Native Americans. Many died and many others enriched by the stealing of lands under his watch. His actions were no less malevolent than the actions of antichrist Osama bin Laden. A Google search will show links to many proofs of this comment.

History shows nothing of the sort. Those who were tortured were those by the Conquistadores. Serra was the advocate of the Natives. Google isn't your friend, here. The Catholic Church never forced conversions.

 

[HonestTruth]

History shows nothing of the sort. Those who were tortured were those by the Conquistadores. Serra was the advocate of the Natives. Google isn't your friend, here. The Catholic Church never forced conversions.

Historian Cecil Roth (England's foremost authority on the Inquisition) would readily disagree as would most historians.

The strenuous work regime and high population density within the missions themselves also caused high death rates among the mission Indians. By law, all baptized Indians subjected themselves completely to the authority of the Franciscans; they could be whipped, shackled or imprisoned for disobedience, and hunted down if they fled the mission grounds. Indian recruits, who were often forced to convert nearly at gunpoint, could be expected to survive mission life for only about ten years. As one Friar noted, the Indians "live well free but as soon as we reduce them to a Christian and community life... they fatten, sicken, and die."


PBS - THE WEST - Junipero Serra



As with Bartolome de las Casas, there are enough proofs from Catholic clergy which confirm historical accounts of atrocities and other depredations imposed upon Native Americans. Therefore, not my opinion but historical fact from first hand accounts.

 

[Root of Jesse]

Historian Cecil Roth (England's foremost authority on the Inquisition) would readily disagree as would most historians.

The strenuous work regime and high population density within the missions themselves also caused high death rates among the mission Indians. By law, all baptized Indians subjected themselves completely to the authority of the Franciscans; they could be whipped, shackled or imprisoned for disobedience, and hunted down if they fled the mission grounds. Indian recruits, who were often forced to convert nearly at gunpoint, could be expected to survive mission life for only about ten years. As one Friar noted, the Indians "live well free but as soon as we reduce them to a Christian and community life... they fatten, sicken, and die."


PBS - THE WEST - Junipero Serra



As with Bartolome de las Casas, there are enough proofs from Catholic clergy which confirm historical accounts of atrocities and other depredations imposed upon Native Americans. Therefore, not my opinion but historical fact from first hand accounts.

Your source is questionable. The Church almost never subjected humans to such actions, they almost always left that to the state. I'm not saying that there weren't clergy who overstepped their authority, but Serra wasn't one of them. Franciscans didn't wield weapons.

From the Wiki article on Serra: Serra's own views are documented. In 1780, Serra wrote: "that spiritual fathers should punish their sons, the Indians, with blows appears to be as old as the conquest of the Americas; so general in fact that the saints do not seem to be any exception to the rule." Serra pushed for a system of laws to protect natives from some abuses by Spanish soldiers, whose practices were in conflict with his...
Mark A. Noll, a professor at the religious Wheaton College in Illinois, has noted that this reflected an attitude, common at the time, that missionaries could, and should, treat their wards like children, including the use of corporal punishment.
Iris Engstrand, professor and chair of the Department of History at the University of San Diego, described him as


much nicer to the Indians, really, than even to the governors. He didn't get along too well with some of the military people, you know. His attitude was, 'Stay away from the Indians'. I think you really come up with a benevolent, hard-working person who was strict in a lot of his doctrinal leanings and things like that, but not a person who was enslaving Indians, or beating them, ever....He was a very caring person and forgiving. Even after the burning of the mission in San Diego, he did not want those Indians punished. He wanted to be sure that they were treated fairly...

 

[HonestTruth]

I can present further historical proofs of my claim but do not wish to cause any further displeasure about this matter. Let the readers determine for themselves what constitutes the truth - on the Judgment Day we shall all account for our actions.

 

[Anhelyna]

HonestTruth

I like your handle

Rather than just disappear without giving us your evidence - and it may have merit - after all until it's seen we cannot make up our own minds about the veracity or otherwise of it.

Would you please give us links so we can read this evidence ourselves ?

 

[HonestTruth]

A good place to begin is Exploring American History - From Colonial Times to 1877 edited by Langford & Woods. The Orange County Register has had a couple of interesting articles on the subject - note that this is a conservative newspaper.

 

[Root of Jesse]

The truth is that the Church never sanctioned torture, never condoned mistreatment of human beings, and always was concerned with human dignity.

The Spanish conquistadores worked for the crown. The Franciscans who went with them were there for the spiritual well-being of the conquistadors, to provide them with sacraments, and so on. They also went to spread the gospel once they got there. They treated the natives like sons and daughters. Did this sometimes include chastisement and punishment? Yes, that's what parents do to guide their children, sometimes. Did it go past what's acceptable for the time? Yes it probably did. Did Junipero Serra do anything that the Church in Rome would not sanction? His status as a Blessed tells us that he did not. Also, the consideration to elevate him, by a Latin-origin Holy Father, tells us he did not. I'm sure he will be investigated in the coming months, as is anyone who is elevated to a higher position.

Honest Truth, you haven't provided a link for us to click on and read...

 

[HonestTruth]

Google can link you to that book above.

 

[Root of Jesse]

Google can link you to that book above.

I'm not paying $400 to get it, but so what? There are conflicting opinions on his role in mistreatment of natives. But given his life before he went to California, I would be ready to defend his record in California.

I also understand how different people can see things differently. Junipero Serra was a man. A fallible human. I know he made mistakes. That doesn't mean he shouldn't be canonized.

When you look at who he evangelized, and understand the time, you can look back and ask if the natives were better off as they were before, or as they were after. Serra taught them to farm and provided education. To look back at the time through 21st century eyes is to do a disservice to Serra.

 

[Michie]

America's next saint will be the man who evangelized California and is associated with the beginnings of Los Angeles. Pope Francis announced last week that he intends to canonize Blessed Junípero Serra, OFM, when he comes to the United States next September. This is great news and I am grateful to our Holy Father for this gift to California and the Americas...

Padre Serra’s canonization will be a beautiful day in the life of the United States...

 

[HonestTruth]

I'm not paying $400 to get it, but so what? There are conflicting opinions on his role in mistreatment of natives. But given his life before he went to California, I would be ready to defend his record in California.

I also understand how different people can see things differently. Junipero Serra was a man. A fallible human. I know he made mistakes. That doesn't mean he shouldn't be canonized.

When you look at who he evangelized, and understand the time, you can look back and ask if the natives were better off as they were before, or as they were after. Serra taught them to farm and provided education. To look back at the time through 21st century eyes is to do a disservice to Serra.

If that is your opinion, then so be it. Too bad so many of the Native American advocates in that region don't feel that way. But it remains a free country where we are all free to believe as we wish.

 

[GoingByzantine]

Blanking for now.

 

[GoingByzantine]

I will be going to the library later, they apparently have a collection of writings by Junípero Serra. I want to read them for myself, but like I said, what I have read so far does not sound too peachy.

 

[GoingByzantine]

I've now read multiple letters written by Serra, and so far they show a man trying to stand against the brutish Spanish Army, not an abusive priest. I apologize for my earlier jumping to conclusions.

 

[Tallguy88]

I've now read multiple letters written by Serra, and so far they show a man trying to stand against the brutish Spanish Army, not an abusive priest. I apologize for my earlier jumping to conclusions.

What specifically did you read? I would like to look into them as well.