Junipero Serra's Complex Legacy

Sunday would have been the 300th birthday of Father Junipero Serra, who established missions across California, laying a foundation for the growth of the Catholic Church. Serra is still an esteemed figure in the church, but the intrusion of missions and Spanish soldiers has been blamed for the exploitation and death of many Native Americans. We discuss the Franciscan missionary’s life and legacy with the author of a new Serra biography.

• More: Exhibit Explores Junipero Serra’s Life, 300 Years Later
• More: Macmillan Publishers: “Junipero Serra: California’s Founding Father”