"Catching most of the Catholic faithful by surprise, Pope Francis announced Thursday that he plans to canonize Father Junipero Serra, the 18th-century Spanish Franciscan priest both revered and reviled for founding nine missions in California." - Steve C, Team Marina

Before Serra's arrival, hundreds of thousands of indigenous people had lived in what is today California. But the mission system imposed pressure on Indians to assimilate while also exposing thousands to foreign diseases, wiping out villages, native animals and plants. "Most Indians who came to missions didn't live very long," Hackel said. "Those baptized lived short lives. "It was an oppressive system for most Indians: Indians were told to pray a certain way, act a certain way, dress a certain way," Hackel said. "Once baptized, native peoples could not leave the compound without permission." To some Indians, that history has made missions difficult, even haunting places to visit today, but to those tribes whose land was lost altogether, ending any opportunity for a federally recognized reservation, missions are one of the few links to history. - Steve C, Team Marina

This may be a moot point, but can't they just stop making saints? It seems so archaic and goofy. And something like this instance is downright disrespectful to the native people who were harassed by this dude. I just don't like it. - Jenny H.

Guess the streets, hills, schools etc around here that bear his name ain't enough huh. Haven't read the article. Saints have to have performed a miracle right? What was Serra's miracle? - Starmama

Becoming a saint? - Todd Hoff

lol - Starmama