The Archdiocese of Los Angeles mourned the loss of Dolores Huerta, the longtime labor leader and activist who died on Oct. 28 at the age of 96.
Through the Dolores Huerta Foundation, the family put out a statement on Wednesday that read: “We are sad to announce that our beloved mother, Dolores Huerta, has passed away today at the age of 96. As you can imagine, this is an incredibly difficult time for us, and we ask for privacy as we grieve this incredible loss to our family. We know that many of you around the world share in our mourning, and we will be following up on plans to recognize and celebrate her incredible life and legacy.”
In a statement, Archbishop José H. Gomez praised the founding leader of the organization that became the United Farm Workers union.
“In her life, she was a courageous and heroic defender of human dignity, and a woman of faith who inspired generations of young Hispanic leaders, especially women,” Archbishop Gomez said. “We entrust her to the tender mercies of Our Lady of Guadalupe and pray that God console her family and grant her peace.”
Cardinal Roger Mahony remembered working with Huerta when he was a bishop in the Dioceses of Fresno and Stockton, then again when he served the LA Archdiocese.
“I join countless people throughout California and our nation in mourning the passing of Dolores Huerta, a woman of extraordinary courage, determination, and faith in the dignity of every human person,” Mahony said in a statement.
“Dolores Huerta’s legacy extends far beyond the labor movement. She gave hope to generations of working families and reminded our society that true justice requires listening to those whose voices are often overlooked. Her life’s work stands as a testament to the conviction that every worker is entitled to dignity, respect, and a fair opportunity to provide for family and future.”
Huerta became a civil-rights icon first as an advocate for farmworker rights, then later as a fighter for immigrants and getting more Latinas to run for political office.
She coined the phrase “Sí, se puede!” (“Yes, we can”) that continues to be a rallying cry today.
She was born in New Mexico, but moved to California when her parents divorced. She began her career as a teacher before seeing the conditions of farmworkers and their children prompted her into activism.
Huerta earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012.
From Angelus News
Huerta became active for abortion
And despite Huerta’s personal feelings about abortion, she became a full-throated pro-choice advocate, campaigning against personhood laws in Colorado in 2014 and calling access to abortion a “human right.” After the 2016 election, she became an honorary co-chair of the Women’s March in D.C.
– from Meteor
I’m tired of these bishops. Gomez, retire already.
This woman had no morals. Too bad that evil Cesar Chavez forced her into sex, and she had two illegitimate children by him. She also had 7 kids by two marriages and 5 children with a lover she was with for many years. Children need a rock solid mother and father in a good, stable, loving marriage and a good home. Ms. Huerta had no business supporting the crime and sin of abortion. Very evil, detrimental to her movement to help farm workers. The Catholic Church should just express sympathy to her family at her death. Nothing more.
My sense of the Latino culture is that many men are proud of their sexual prowess and adopting a pro-life stance would put a powerful damper on their reputations as Latin lovers. Latinas know this and are not likely to give up a pro-abortion stance. So Archbishop Gomez, beholden to this culture more than to anything else, would happily give Dolores Huerta high praise and accolations.
Bishops (including archbishops and cardinals, of course) should not honor abortion promoters. They should meet with them and pray and work for their conversion. That is the loving thing to do. This is true in California, Illinois and everywhere. The bishops have lost much of their moral credibility. They’re only losing more when they do things like this. Lord, have mercy on us all.
I hate it when women are fawned over simply for their good looks.
Now we are stuck with immoral, pro abortion, fake “Catholic” Xavier Becerra as our next Governor. He should have long ago been ezcommunicated. Shame on our babyish prelates, coddling immature egos, in the false pseudo-“science” of Psychology, terrified that some dumb, corrupt, selfish, hardened sinner will “dissolve into tears, injured for life” — over a well-justified, objective letter of excommunication from their local bishop.
Amen. Lord spare us from more “Catholic” governors and presidents.
And, provide bishops with spines (or whatever they need) to love enough to confront those promoting child killing and the violation of girls and women.
Now, I suppose we will have to endure seeing our Catholic prelates congratulate Xavier Becerra– and give him Communion at Mass. While the whole world watches our shamefully hypcritical Church. Sorry that Texas lost Gov. Greg Abbott– hope they will someday “wale up” and dump Talarico forever.
Whatever Delores’s sins or virtues were, she is now standing before the only truly just judge. I said a plenary indulgence for her at Our Lady of Peace in Santa Clara, CA.
In the words of my maternal grandmother, “There but for the grace of God go I.”