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Daily Meditations with Matthew Fox
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Breaking the Silence: Native Americans
& Historical Trauma, II Donna Shindler, who has spent 25 years working with indigenous peoples as a psychiatrist, continues telling her story: |
(from) For Native Americans, Historical Trauma is Deadly By Donna Schindler
Republished with the author’s permission |
Multiple times, Valentin Lopez, Chairperson of the Amah Mutsun tribal band in Northern California, Bishop Quinn and I sent letters and a video regarding the trauma
natives endured in the missions to Pope | Democracy Now! interviews Valentin Lopez, chair of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who led efforts to oppose Pope Francis’ decision to canonize Father Junípero Serra. |
Francis, asking the Vatican to acknowledge the
suffering that the Catholic church had caused the California Natives who built and were forced to stay in the missions. Our only reply was from a Pope substitute who said he would pray for our intentions. In 2015, Pope Francis said that he planned to canonize Fr. Junipero Serra, who had started the mission system in California in the 1700’s. Bishop Quinn, Chairperson Lopez and I invited Father Ken Lavarone (vice postulator for Serra’s cause) and Bishop Ed Clark of the California Bishops Conference to discuss the need for the church to apologize
to the mission descendants and our concern that the Pope planned to canonize Fr. Junipero Serra. |
| Fr. Lavarone and Bishop Clark were not at all interested in our point of view. When we mentioned the book A Cross of Thorns by Elias Castillo which is critical of the missions, both Clark and Laverone
dismissed it, saying, “He’s not a historian.” Castillo, a recognized expert on Mexico and three-time Pulitzer Prize nominee, spent years doing research for his book. Lavarone and Andrew Galvan, one of the few Indians who supported the canonization of Serra, were present on the altar during Serra’s canonization. |
The stories
that have been told regarding the California missions are unfathomable. I used to find it difficult to believe the horrible stories I heard about what had happened to Native Americans. After many years, I no longer allow myself the luxury of not believing. Clearly, not telling the truth regarding what happened in the California missions and canonizing the man who started them is like nailing the coffin lid shut—the suffering will continue and in a hundred years the true history may be lost. |
As a practicing Catholic for my entire life until 2015, I feel that it would bring great healing to both the descendants of the California mission Indians as well as the Catholic church for Serra’s canonization to be revoked, an appropriate apology and reconciliation to be made, and the truth to be told in the missions and elsewhere. | “No Sainthood for Serra” Native American community members and Interfaith clergy leaders and supporters demonstrated at Mission Dolores in San Francisco to oppose the
impending canonization of Junipero Serra by the Catholic church. Photo by Alex Darocy. |
Cleary, political silence is not a virtue. I thank Donna Schindler for speaking out and all others who do so about the sad and tragic history of indigenous peoples on the American continents and
indeed around the world. And not to keep silence about the Discovery Doctrine that still reigns after 572 years. |
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Queries for Contemplation
What can you do about the historical trauma that has been inflicted on indigenous peoples near and far? See Matthew Fox, Confessions: The Making of a Postdenominational Priest, pp. 141, 144f., 154, 192, 224, 260, 279f., 373-76, 443f.
Also see
Matthew Fox, Creation Spirituality: Liberating Gifts for the Peoples of the Earth. Banner Image: Indigenous People’s Day – October 12, 2020, Mission San Rafael Arcángel: Local native Coast Miwoks and allies rallied in front of the statue of
Junípero Serra at Saint Raphael’s Catholic Church in Marin County, CA, calling for the removal of the statue and acknowledgment of Serra’s brutal legacy. After numerous impassioned speeches, the statue was covered with red paint and ropes were used to pull the statue down. Photo by Peg Hunter on Flickr |
Confessions: The Making
of a Post-Denominational Priest Matthew Fox’s stirring autobiography, Confessions, reveals his personal, intellectual, and spiritual journey from altar boy, to Dominican priest, to his eventual break with the
Vatican. Five new chapters in this revised and updated edition bring added perspective in light of the author’s continued journey, and his reflections on the current changes taking place in church, society and the environment. “The unfolding story of this irrepressible spiritual revolutionary enlivens the mind and emboldens the heart — must reading
for anyone interested in courage, creativity, and the future of religion.” —Joanna Macy, author of World as Lover, World as Self | |
Creation
Spirituality: Liberating Gifts for the Peoples of the Earth Fox’s spirituality weds the healing and liberation found in North American Creation Spirituality and in South American Liberation Theology. Creation Spirituality challenges readers of every religious and political persuasion to unite in a new vision through which we learn to
honor the earth and the people who inhabit it as the gift of a good and just Creator. “A watershed theological work that offers a common ground for religious seekers and activists of all stripes.” — Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice. | |
Responses are welcomed. To add your comment, please click HERE
to go to our website and scroll down to the Comments field. See Matthew Fox's full calendar HERE
Join Matthew Fox as he offers a new, 12-week advanced course on the Shift Network:
7 Mystics on Recovering the Sacred and
Forging a New Story for Humanity: Timeless Wisdom to Deepen, Heal & Inspire Your Life Journey. NOTE: There is a prerequisite: In order to take this 12-week advanced course, one must have taken any prior shift course with Matthew Fox (not just the 7-week 7
Mystics course). Tuesdays, August 16-November 1, 5:00pm-6:30pm PT (GMT/UTC-7). Register HERE. Join Matthew Fox for the monthly Our Lady of the Prairie virtual retreat, discussing One River, Many Wells: Wisdom Springing from Global Faiths. Thursday, August
18, 4:00-6:00pm PT. Learn more HERE.
Join Matthew Fox in a 6-week virtual course on “Mystics, Mysticism and Ourselves as Mystic-Prophets,” hosted by Creation Spirituality Communities. Wednesdays, 8/24, 8/31, 9/7, 9/14,
9/21, and 9/28, 4:00pm-6:00pm PT. Register HERE. Join Matthew Fox for the monthly Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, discussing The Coming of the Cosmic Christ, Thursday, September 15, 4:00pm-6:00pm PT. Register HERE. |
Creation Spirituality in Conversation |
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Host Sandie Sedbeer welcomes Matthew Fox in a discussion of Creation Spirituality: Fresh Perspectives and Approaches to the Most Vital Issues of Our Time on WHAT IS GOING OM. Navigate to the podcast page by clicking the image on the left. |
Announcing Matthew Fox's Newest Book!
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Matthew Fox: Essential Writings on Creation Spirituality
Selected with an introduction by Charles Burack
“This collection of Fox’s most life-giving insights blesses the connection between caring for our Mother-the-Earth and lifting up marginalized voices, between waking up from the dream of separation and stepping up to mend the net of creation.”
—Mirabai Starr, author, God of Love and Wild Mercy
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