Apology doesn’t change opinions on canonization

SAN FRANCISCO – Pope Francis’ apology for the Roman Catholic Church’s crimes against indigenous peoples has not softened opposition among some California Native Americans to his decision to canonize 18th-century Franciscan missionary Junipero Serra.

Serra is extolled by the Vatican as a great evangelizer, but denounced by some tribal officials as a destroyer of Native culture.

Francis made a sweeping apology for the church’s sins and “crimes” against indigenous peoples during a visit to Bolivia in July, “humbly” begging forgiveness in the presence of Bolivia’s first-ever indigenous president and representatives of native groups from across South America, who wildly cheered the pope and said they accepted the apology.

But Ron Andrade of the La Jolla Indian Reservation, said the apology is not a real reckoning with the church’s history of abusing Native Americans and appears intended to seek forgiveness and move on.

Norma Flores, a spokeswoman for the Gabrieleno Band of Mission Indians, Kizh Nation, said the pope’s apology is meaningless if he doesn’t halt the canonization of Serra on Sept. 23 at Washington’s National Shrine.

Bible Study Fellowship to meet in Durango, Cortez

Bible Study Fellowship International will start classes at 9 a.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church, 2917 Aspen Drive.

There also will be a nighttime group at 6 p.m. Thursdays at the same location.

The satellite group will meet at 10:30 a.m. Thursdays in Cortez.

Each location will hold welcome sessions for all new members.

The study is interdenominational. There will be a children’s Bible study held during the morning class at First United Methodist Church for children 5 and younger. This year’s study is the Book of Revelation.

For more information, call Patricia Trantham at 385-8644.

Herald Staff & Associated Press