Scholars and Catholics spoke to NCR about how Pope Francis has dealt with the Catholic Church's history of colonialism, and how he has confronted colonialism in its continuing forms.
For Franciscans in the United States, Serra is an important figure. They acknowledge his massive contribution to the church and are yet mindful of his complicated legacy and history. Should statues of him remain in public view?
Three alumnae of Columbus Catholic High School drafted a petition demanding that the school change its name and remove a Columbus statue from the grounds. The effort represents the spread of a nationwide reckoning.
Faith Seeking Understanding: Whereas over the years many white people might not have even stopped to look at or consider the symbolic significance of these public shrines to racist traitors, many people of color are regularly forced to confront again the grotesque history of a country that denied them of their very humanity.
Distinctly Catholic: Vandalizing a statue is as objectionable as tossing the Pachamama statue into the Tiber at last year's Amazon synod. If we are to debate whether or not Serra and Columbus still deserve a place in the American pantheon, let us debate the issue, not destroy the statues.
Appreciation: The former bishop of Sacramento spent his retirement years ministering to the homeless, doing pastoral work with indigenous communities in the West and opposing Pope Francis' canonization of Junípero Serra.
College roundup: Stanford removes Serra's name from several campus spots; St. Vincent College removes accused abuser's name from center; Catholics at Berkeley Law oppose Kavanaugh.
Over the weekend, the battle over monuments to controversial figures extended to California, where a statue of a Catholic saint, Fr. Junipero Serra, was vandalized in Los Angeles.
