And come to think of it, I think that the importance of Junipero Serra and Mother Teresa is in what they symbolize, far more than what they were as individuals. Like it or not, Mother Teresa is a symbol of all the suffering people her sisters have served, in India and all over the world. Despite (or because of) their conservatism, those nuns have lived austere lives that show solidarity with the poor and suffering. Because of Mother Teresa, the people of the world are aware of the poverty and suffering that exists in this world.

And those 21 Franciscan Missions in California are not primarily a symbol of Spain, or of the Catholic Church. They are a constant symbol of a very important truth: the Mexicans were here first. Californians harbor a lot of prejudice against Hispanic peoples, and it's healthy for California to have a reminder that the Mexicans have as much right to be here as the Anglos. The Spanish came and left, but the Mexicans are still here - and most of those missions are now functioning as Catholic parishes with primarily Hispanic congregations. Not rich folks, not even in Carmel.

-Joe-