Junipero Serra: The Man Behind the Canonization Controversy

Speakers:
Rose Marie Beebe, professor of Spanish, Modern Language and Literatures, Santa Clara University
Robert Senkewicz, professor of History, Santa Clara University

Moderator:
Thomas Reese, S.J., senior analyst, National Catholic Reporter, and Visiting Scholar, Markkula Center for Applied Ethics

Co-sponsored by the Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education and The Markkula Center for Applied Ethics

New! Livestream for event: http://buff.ly/1K2I7K7

At this event, Professor Beebe and Professor Senkewicz will speak about their just-completed book, “Junipero Serra: California, Indians, and the Transformation of a Missionary” (U of Oklahoma Press, 2015). Their work is an attempt to get behind the controversy over the canonization of Serra and to illuminate the man himself. While the work of Beebe and Senkewicz is historical and does not take a position on the canonization, what they have to say is sure to assist both those who believe Serra should be canonized as an intrepid evangelizer of the New World and those who believe that Serra was a central figure in the destruction of the Native American way of life and thus is unworthy of the honor of sainthood. The canonization is scheduled to take place during the visit of Pope Francis to Washington, D.C., this September. Ethics Center Visiting Scholar Thomas Reese, S.J., moderates this session.

After the presentation, there will be time for discussion.