Bishop Barron on Canceling Padre Serra

Summary

The speaker addresses the historical prejudice against Catholics in America, highlighting the recent controversy over the removal of statues of Saint Junipero Serra. They argue that Serra, a Catholic saint, is wrongly scapegoated for 18th-century Spanish colonialism and emphasize his positive contributions to California's cultural and religious life. The video script warns of a resurgence of anti-Catholic sentiment, drawing parallels to past periods of hostility, and calls for reason to prevail over the 'cancel culture' targeting Serra's legacy.

Takeaways

• 😔 The speaker expresses concern over the resurgence of anti-Catholic sentiment, drawing parallels to historical prejudice.
• 🗽 The removal of Saint Junipero Serra's statue and the consideration of erasing his image from Ventura's seal and police badges are seen as manifestations of this bias.
• 🙏 Junipero Serra is defended as a friend to the native peoples, who protected them from mistreatment and introduced them to the Christian faith.
• 📜 The speaker argues that Serra was not personally responsible for the abuses of 18th-century Spanish colonialism, and his actions should not be conflated with such atrocities.
• 🏛 Serra's missions are credited with laying the foundation for many major cities in California and the spread of the Christian faith in the region.
• 🔥 The script mentions the desecration of Serra's statues as reminiscent of historical anti-Catholic violence, including the burning of churches and convents in the 19th century.
• 👥 The Know-Nothing party and the Ku Klux Klan are cited as examples of organized anti-Catholicism in American history.
• 📊 The speaker suggests that the opposition to Catholicism was deeply ingrained and persisted into the 20th century, as evidenced by rhetoric against JFK in the 1960 presidential campaign.
• 📚 Arthur Schlesinger Sr.'s quote is used to emphasize the historical depth of anti-Catholic prejudice in the United States.
• 🚫 The speaker warns of the dangers of the current 'Jacobin moment' in cultural history, where there is a risk of unchecked momentum against historical figures like Serra.
• 🤔 A call to action is made for cooler heads to prevail and to resist the 'cancel culture' targeting Padre Serra, emphasizing the importance of responsible dialogue.

Q & A

What is the main concern expressed in the video script about the removal of statues of Saint Junipero Serra?

The main concern is the resurgence of anti-Catholicism, as the speaker sees the removal of these statues and the desecration of symbols related to Saint Junipero Serra as a reflection of historical biases against Catholics.

Why is Saint Junipero Serra considered a great Catholic saint by the speaker?

Saint Junipero Serra is considered a great Catholic saint because he was a friend to the native peoples, sought to protect them from mistreatment, and introduced them to the Christian faith through his missions.

What historical abuses are mentioned in the script as being associated with 18th-century Spanish colonialism?

The script mentions that there were abuses inherent to 18th-century Spanish colonialism, which included mistreatment of indigenous peoples, but it clarifies that Father Serra was not personally responsible for these abuses.

How does the speaker refute the comparison of Saint Junipero Serra to Hitler and his missions to concentration camps?

The speaker refutes this comparison by stating that it is defamatory and highlights the positive contributions of Serra's missions to the cultural and political life of California.

What role did Saint Junipero Serra play in the spread of the Christian faith in California?

Saint Junipero Serra played a significant role in spreading the Christian faith in California by establishing missions that taught indigenous peoples useful skills and introduced them to Christianity.

What is the speaker's view on the historical significance of the missions established by Saint Junipero Serra?

The speaker views the missions as foundational to the political and cultural life of the state of California, with many of its greatest cities built on the foundation of these missions.

How does the speaker describe the current situation regarding the removal of symbols related to Saint Junipero Serra?

The speaker describes the situation as a 'Jacobin moment' in cultural history, which is dangerous due to the lack of clear indicators to stop its momentum, and likens it to historical periods of anti-Catholicism.

What historical parallels does the speaker draw to the current situation of anti-Catholic sentiment?

The speaker draws parallels to the mid to late 19th century when anti-Catholicism was rampant in the United States, with the Know-Nothings party opposing Catholicism and instances of violence against Catholic institutions.

What is the speaker's hope for the outcome of the controversy surrounding Saint Junipero Serra's legacy?

The speaker hopes that cooler heads will prevail and that responsible people will put an end to what they see as a dangerous attempt to cancel Padre Serra.

What is the speaker's perspective on the role of evangelism in spreading the Christian faith?

The speaker views evangelism as a positive and necessary endeavor, citing the example of Saint Junipero Serra who left his home to proclaim Christ to those who did not know Him.

Outlines

00:00

😔 Anti-Catholicism and the Legacy of Saint Junipero Serra

The speaker addresses the historical prejudice against Catholics in America, highlighting the recent controversy surrounding the removal of statues of Saint Junipero Serra. They argue that Serra is being unfairly scapegoated for the abuses of 18th-century Spanish colonialism, despite evidence suggesting he was a friend and protector of native peoples. The speaker defends Serra's role in establishing missions and spreading Christianity, which they view as a positive contribution to California's cultural and political life. They also draw parallels between the current statue desecration and past anti-Catholic sentiment, warning of the dangers of such behavior.

05:03

😠 The Cultural Danger of Erasing Padre Serra's Memory

In this paragraph, the speaker expresses concern over the cultural and historical implications of erasing the memory of Padre Serra, a Catholic saint canonized by Pope Francis. They describe the current cultural moment as 'jacobin,' indicating a radical and potentially destructive phase. The speaker fears that the removal of Serra's image from public spaces could lead to further questioning of Catholic faith and institutions. They call for reason and responsibility to prevail, urging an end to what they see as a dangerous attempt to 'cancel' Padre Serra, and encourage viewers to share and subscribe to their channel for more content.

Keywords

💡Prejudice

Prejudice refers to a preconceived opinion or judgment that is not based on reason or actual experience. In the video's context, it highlights the historical bias against Catholics in America, suggesting that the current actions of tearing down statues reflect a deep-seated anti-Catholic sentiment. The script mentions 'prejudice against Catholics' as a significant issue, indicating its relevance to the video's theme.

💡Anti-Catholicism

Anti-Catholicism is a form of religious discrimination against Catholics. The video discusses this concept as a potential motivation behind the destruction of statues, drawing a parallel to historical instances of anti-Catholic sentiment in the United States. The term is used to underscore the perceived resurgence of this bias in contemporary events.

💡Junípero Serra

Junípero Serra was a Spanish Franciscan friar who founded a mission chain in California, which later became the basis for many cities in the state. The video script defends his legacy against accusations of mistreatment of indigenous peoples, arguing that he was a friend to the natives and a key figure in the spread of Christianity in the region.

💡Desecration

Desecration refers to the act of showing irreverence or lack of respect for something considered sacred or revered. In the script, the term is used to describe the destruction of statues, which the speaker sees as a disrespectful act towards a revered Catholic figure, Saint Junipero Serra.

💡Scapegoat

A scapegoat is a person or thing that is blamed for the problems or mistakes of others. The script uses this term to argue that Junipero Serra is being unfairly blamed for the abuses of 18th-century Spanish colonialism, despite not being directly responsible for them.

💡Indigenous peoples

Indigenous peoples are the original inhabitants of a particular region before the arrival of other groups. The video script emphasizes that Junipero Serra sought to protect these peoples from mistreatment and taught them useful skills, positioning him as a defender rather than an oppressor of indigenous communities.

💡Evangelism

Evangelism is the act of publicly preaching the Christian gospel with the intention of sharing the faith and converting others. The video praises Junipero Serra's evangelism as a positive contribution to California's cultural and spiritual life, contrasting it with the negative view held by some who oppose his legacy.

💡Know-Nothings

The Know-Nothings, or American Party, was a political party in the mid-19th century that was known for its anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic stance. The script uses this historical reference to illustrate the long-standing anti-Catholic sentiment in American history.

💡Ku Klux Klan

The Ku Klux Klan is a white supremacist group that was active in the United States, particularly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The video mentions the Klan's role in terrorizing not only black and Jewish communities but also Catholics, further emphasizing the historical context of anti-Catholicism.

💡Cultural history

Cultural history refers to the study of the cultural and social aspects of the past. The video script discusses the current moment as a 'Jacobin moment' in cultural history, suggesting a period of radical change and upheaval that is potentially dangerous for traditional values and figures like Junipero Serra.

💡Cancel culture

Cancel culture refers to the modern practice of publicly calling out and boycotting individuals or entities that are deemed to have done something offensive or harmful. The script warns against the dangers of this culture, suggesting that it is being applied to historical figures like Padre Serra in an attempt to erase their memory and legacy.

Highlights

Prejudice against Catholics is considered the deepest bias in American history.

Mobs are tearing down and desecrating statues of Saint Junipero Serra, a Catholic saint canonized by Pope Francis.

The government of Ventura, California, is considering removing the image of Padres Sarah from the city seal and police badges.

Junipero Serra is being used as a scapegoat for 18th-century Spanish colonialism abuses.

Despite the abuses of the time, Father Serra was not personally responsible for them.

Evidence suggests Serra was a friend of native peoples and protected them from mistreatment.

Serra's missions taught indigenous people useful skills and introduced them to Christianity.

Comparing Serra to Hitler and his missions to concentration camps is defamatory.

The political and cultural life of California has roots in the missions established by Serra.

Major cities in California, including Ventura, were built on the foundation of Serra's missions.

The spread of the Christian faith in California is largely due to the work of Serra and his colleagues.

Enthusiastic evangelism, like Serra's, should be celebrated rather than condemned.

Most Catholics in California cherish the faith brought by Padre Serra.

The destruction of Serra's statues is reminiscent of anti-Catholic activities in 19th-century America.

The Know-Nothings political party was organized around opposing Catholicism.

Catholic institutions were targets of violence by mobs and the Ku Klux Klan in the past.

Anti-Catholic sentiment persisted into the 20th century, as seen in the 1960 presidential campaign.

The current cultural moment is likened to a 'Jacobin' period, which is dangerous for its potential momentum.

There is a call for cooler heads to prevail and end the attempt to cancel Padre Serra.

Transcripts

prejudice against catholics is the

deepest bias

in the history of the american people

close quote

so when i see mobs tearing down and

desecrating statues of a great catholic

saint

mind you canonized just five years ago

by pope francis

how can i not see the ugly specter of

anti-catholicism raising its head

i've just received word that after

voting to remove a large statue of saint

junipero serra

that stands in front of their city hall

the government of ventura california

which is in my pastoral region

is now considering removing the image of

padres sarah from the seal

and from the badges of the ventura

police officers

friends this entire effort to erase the

memory of sarah is

from an historical standpoint ridiculous

and from a moral standpoint

more than a little frightening let me

address the ridiculous side first

to state it bluntly juniperocera is

being used as a convenient

scapegoat for certain abuses inherent to

18th century spanish colonialism

were such abuses real yes did people

suffer from them

yes of course but was father sarah

personally responsible for them

of course not i won't deny for a moment

that sarah

probably engaged in certain disciplinary

practices that we would rightfully

regard as

morally questionable or that he was in

certain unhappy ways a child of his time

and culture

but the overwhelming evidence suggests

that he was a great

friend of the native peoples that he

sought time and again to protect them

from mistreatment by civil authorities

that he presided over missions where the

indigenous were taught useful skills

and were introduced to the christian

faith

to suggest as did some of those who were

petitioning for the removal of a statue

that sarah was the moral equivalent of

hitler and his missions the moral

equivalent of concentration camps

is nothing short of defamatory it's no

exaggeration to affirm that

from the missions established by

junipero serra came much of the

political and cultural life of the state

of california

many of our greatest cities san diego

los angeles san francisco

santa barbara and yes ventura were built

on the foundation of the missions

and i won't hesitate to say it the

spread of the christian

faith in this part of the world took

place largely because

of the work of junipero sarah and his

colleagues and this is a

good thing jesus told his first

followers to go into all the world and

preach the good news

not as a message of oppression but of

spiritual liberation

it was precisely in response to that

apostolic summons

that freyjuniperocera left mallorca

crossed the ocean

and spent the remainder of his life

proclaiming christ to those who did not

know him

though it's politically incorrect to say

so today

this kind of enthusiastic evangelism is

to be celebrated not excoriated

the majority of catholics in california

today have the faith that they cherish

because padre sarah first brought it

here

and this brings me to the morally

dangerous side of this issue

when i first saw those videos of sarah

statues being torn down

burnt spat upon trampled and desecrated

up in san francisco and here in l.a

i shuddered not only because such

behavior was

boorish and unjustifying but also

because it reminded me of very similar

activities at earlier stages of american

history

in the mid to late 19th century

anti-catholicism was rampant in the

united states

due in part to prejudices inherited from

protestantism but also

due to the arrival of large groups of

immigrants from catholic countries

immigrants who were considered inferior

a powerful political party the

know-nothings

was organized precisely around the theme

of opposing catholicism

and in many of the major cities of our

country catholic convents parishes

cathedrals

churches and yes statues were burned to

the ground by unruly mobs

moreover in that same period the ku klux

klan

which was active not just in the south

but in many northern cities as well

endeavored to terrorize blacks and jews

of course

but also it's easy to forget catholics

if you doubt that this sort of knee-jerk

opposition to catholicism endured well

into the 20th century

i'd recommend you consult some of the

histrionic rhetoric used by the

opponents of

john f kennedy during the presidential

campaign of 1960.

the dean of american historians arthur

schlesinger senior

summed up this trend in his oft repeated

remark quote

prejudice against catholics is the

deepest bias in the history of the

american people

close quote so when i see mobs

tearing down and desecrating statues of

a great catholic saint mind you

canonized just

five years ago by pope francis how can i

not see the ugly specter of

anti-catholicism raising its head

friends we're passing through a jacobin

moment in our cultural history and such

periods

are dangerous indeed for there's no

clear indication of what can stop their

momentum

so in this case what's next shall we

tear down the missions themselves the

moral equivalents of death camps

shall we call into question the catholic

faith and institutions that junipero

sarah

brought to these shores one can only

hope that

cooler heads will prevail and that

responsible people might bring to an

end this ridiculous and frankly

dangerous attempt

to cancel padre sarah

thanks so much for watching if you

enjoyed this video i encourage you to

share it and be sure to subscribe to my

youtube channel

you