Retired bishop apologizes to Indians for church's treatment of them

Published: 2008-01-03

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CNS) -- Retired Bishop Francis A. Quinn of Sacramento, during a Dec. 15 Mass at the Church of St. Raphael in San Rafael, apologized to the Coast Miwok Indians for the church's mistreatment of them two centuries ago. The Mass was held to commemorate the 190th anniversary of the founding of Mission San Rafael Arcangel. The Miwok Indians once occupied the lands from the Golden Gate to north of Bodega Bay and helped Spanish priests build and maintain the mission in 1817. The bishop conceded that the Indians were repaid by church authorities with the destruction of their own spiritual practices and cruel punishment for any disobedience. Greg Sarris, head of the Miwok tribal council, officially called the Federal Indians of Graton Rancheria, told The Associated Press that Bishop Quinn's remarks were historic. "I have not heard this happening anywhere else in this country," he said.

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