Opinion

Simon Moya-Smith: Pope Francis must offer more than apology






A statue of Junipero Serra with an Indian boy. Photo by Anatoly Terentiev / Wikipedia

Simon Moya-Smith, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, calls on Pope Francis to repeal the church edicts that have been used to justify the taking of Indian lands:
Fifteen years ago, Pope John Paul II apologized for hundreds of years of violence and subjugation that the indigenous peoples of the Americas suffered at the hands of Catholics. Pope Francis, speaking in Bolivia, followed this up in July by expressing remorse over the cruelty committed against the indigenous peoples of the Americas.

"I say this to you with regret: Many grave sins were committed against the native people of America in the name of God," he said. "I humbly ask forgiveness, not only for the offense of the church herself, but also for crimes committed against the native peoples during the so-called conquest of America."

So why is he set to canonize someone whose actions would seem to fly in the face of such encouraging words?

This week, during his first visit to the United States, the Pope is expected to canonize 18th-century Franciscan Friar Junipero Serra, who arrived in 1769 and founded nine of California's 21 Spanish Catholic missions.

The problem is that Serra is also documented as being an extreme and unapologetic abuser of the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Coast..

Get the Story:
Simon Moya-Smith: Junipero Serra no saint (CNN 9/23)

Join the Conversation

Related Stories:
Pope Francis fails to address mistreatment of California tribes (9/24)
Ballet company from Osage Nation to perform for Pope Francis (9/24)
Papal mass features reading in Native language from California (9/23)
Day of Mourning observed as Pope Francis delivers mass in DC (9/23)
Two from Muwekma Ohlone Tribe taking part in sainthood mass (9/21)
Documentary about Doctrine of Discovery to be screened in DC (9/11)
Pope Francis to bestow sainthood on founder of Indian missions (9/10)
Al Villanueva: Indian mission founder did not commit genocide (9/7)
Steven Newcomb: The religious basis of Doctrine of Discovery (09/02)
Steven Newcomb: Pope in denial about genocide of our peoples (08/21)
Opinion: Church's apology not enough for some Native people (8/18)
Steven Newcomb: Church set out to dehumanize Indian people (08/12)
Steven Newcomb: Dehumanizing 'Indians' to take their lands (08/06)
Valentin Lopez: Founder of brutal Indian missions was no saint (08/04)
Peter d'Errico: Seeking action after apology from Pope Francis (07/30)
Steven Newcomb: Pope Francis takes a first step with apology (07/14)
Gyasi Ross: Pope Francis issues apology to indigenous peoples (07/13)
Elizabeth Hawksworth: Church owes apology to Native people (06/23)
Steven Newcomb: Colonizers of Indian land now viewed as saints (06/08)
School apologizes for teaching song about brutal Indian mission (05/21)
Opinion: Join 'Long March to Rome' to support indigenous rights (05/04)
California weighs replacement of statue of Indian mission figure (04/29)
Steven Newcomb: Church celebrates agent of Native genocide (4/28)
Peter d'Errico: Pope fails to address genocide of Native peoples (4/27)
Peter d'Errico: A mistake with sainthood for Indian mission figure (02/06)
Steven Newcomb: Pope celebrates church's legacy of genocide (2/4)
RNS: Critics question sainthood for the 'Columbus of California' (2/3)
Sainthood for founder of brutal California Indian mission system (01/22)
Steven Newcomb: Church set to sanctify legacy of domination (1/19)