Local farm workers and community leaders joined the family of Cesar Chavez in a special Mass on Sunday, March 31, celebrated by Archbishop José H. Gomez, honoring his legacy. The civil rights and farm labor leader would have celebrated his 92nd birthday the same day.
This is the 19th year that the Los Angeles community has gathered to pay tribute to Chavez’s work to secure justice and dignity for all workers. Chavez was a lifelong Catholic and the son of poor farmworkers. He founded the United Farm Workers of America (UFW) in 1962 to advocate on behalf of laborers like his parents.
At the Mass, a farm family brought up the Communion gifts, and Chavez’s son, Paul, president of the Cesar Chavez Foundation, and Arturo Rodriguez, UFW president emeritus, spoke to the assembly after Communion.
From Angelus News.
That’s it. LA and Gomez have gone full SJW. When you celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in support of leftist politics you have distorted Catholic Faith shamelessly and inexcusably. But that’s what the LA REC does, so of course Gomez is okay with this sort of thing. Cesar is not a saint. This is despicable. Totally despicable. Gomez is more a left wing politician than a bishop.
Oh my. Chávez was the labor union collaborator of Archbishop Roger Mahony who dragged the California Catholic Church into racist Social Justice wars. Archbishop Gomez missed an opportunity to keep his mouth shut in this sad event in our recent history.
Chavez was born in Arizona of legal Americans. He was an opponent of illegal immigration. The Left is distorting his whole message.
You are correct! Chavez also was a devout Catholic. Tragic stories abound, of mistreatment of people of Mexican-American origin– born and raised in America! They were not treated the same as other Americans! In parts of California, before the 1960s– their children were often sent to “Mexican” schools by our education system, discouraged from colleges, good jobs, even the priesthood!– and sometimes had to sit in the back of our own churches! They were often prohibited from visiting parks, restaurants, theaters, beauty shops, and certain stores. Migrant laborers were treated as animals! I am no “leftist”— but believe in Christ-like love and respect –and equality!– for all peoples!
Pure lie.
I don’t see a cross anywhere in that photo. The symbol many people are holding up looks like something from The Hunger Games or some other totalitarian dystopian movie. This is not Catholic faith. Can the church in LA get back to Jesus please?
Before the 1960s, discrimination against American-born and raised Mexican-Americans, varied from one part of the country to another. In some places, it was worse than in others. Same thing with discrimination against other races– Blacks, Indians, etc. Racial discrimination is a horrible thing!
For those who are mot familiar with Catholic Social Teachings there is the Catechism of the Catholic Church to refer to. The beatitudes provide another reflection on our baptismal call. If you are very interested read the Catholic Social Teacing Encyclicals from Leo XIII (Rerum Novarum) to today. These provide a great historical study on the call of Christ to be on the side of the worker. Also find books on the saints and social justce. As Catholics we are called to know and assist our neighbor. “Who is my neighbor?” was a question Jesus answered with the parable of the good Samaritan..