Pope Francis announced yesterday that he plans to canonize Father Junipero Serra, the founder of California’s missions, as a saint. Anyone who grew up in California and did their fourth-grade mission project knows of Serra. His life story is taught in classrooms; and streets, schools and freeways all over the state are named after him. But he’s also controversial. The missions Serra introduced decimated local Indian tribes. We look at his life and legacy.
Saint Serra?
Credits
Guest:
- Steven Hackel - history professor at UC Riverside and the author of the biography “Junípero Serra: California’s Founding Father.”