Man charged in San Gabriel Mission blaze that destroyed rooftop of historic church
San Gabriel, California, USRNS A man has been charged in connection with a fire last July that destroyed the rooftop of a church at the historic San Gabriel Mission, the fourth in a series of missions across California that Catholic priest Junipero Serra founded during the Spanish colonisation era. John David Corey, 57, faces two […]
Five charged in toppling of Junipero Serra statue in northern California
RNS Five people linked to the removal of a statue of Junipero Serra at a California church in October have been charged with felony vandalism, a move that San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J Cordileone applauded as a “breakthrough moment for Catholics”. Cordileone, in a statement on Friday, said the charges will be the first time that […]
With Junipero Serra banished, California’s Indigenous activists and artists ask what goes in his place
Los Angeles, USRNS When the Junipero Serra statue in downtown Los Angeles was toppled four months ago, artist and community organizer Joel Garcia was among those who cried, prayed and celebrated in a Native American ceremony. Activists removed the monument to the 18th-century Franciscan missionary because it symbolises to many an imperial conquest that enslaved […]
Fire destroys much of 249-year-old church in California
San Gabriel, CaliforniaAP A fire early Saturday destroyed the rooftop and most of the interior of a Catholic church in California that was undergoing renovation to mark its upcoming 250th anniversary celebration. Fire alarms at the San Gabriel Mission rang around 4am. When firefighters arrived, they saw smoke rising from the wooden rooftop in one […]
California bishops say protesters “failed the test” of history in toppling Junipero Serra statues
Los Angeles, USRNS The California Catholic Conference of Bishops is denouncing the toppling of Junipero Serra statues that protesters took down in San Francisco and Los Angeles over the weekend. “If this process is to be truly effective as a remedy for racism, it must discern carefully the entire contribution that the historical figure in […]
Who is Junipero Serra and why are California protesters toppling statues of this saint?
RNS As protesters on Friday toppled a statue of Father Junipero Serra in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, leaders of another California city had already announced plans to remove a statue of the Catholic saint near their city hall. And by Saturday afternoon another Serra statue was toppled at Placita Olvera in downtown Los Angeles. […]
San Francisco Archbishop criticises toppling of statue
San Francisco, USAP San Francisco Archbishop Salvadore Cordileone criticised the pulling down of the Junipero Serra statue in Golden Gate Park. “What is happening to our society? A renewed national movement to heal memories and correct the injustices of racism and police brutality in our country has been hijacked by some into a movement of […]