Was Father Junipero Serra A Friend To The Indians?

Pope Francis’ scheduled arrival in the United States to canonize the Franciscan missionary Junipero Serra this month has sparked controversy about whether Serra was a saint or was responsible for many deaths to Native Americans.

Jim Downs spent five years researching and writing about the Mission San Luis Rey to produce the book The Real World of Mission San Luis Rey.   Purchase book through this link. Downs will discuss the controversial history of Mission San Luis Rey at three events in San Diego this September.