Bishop addresses problems at St. Joachim’s

Deirdre Newman

A standing-room-only crowd was in the parish hall at St. Joachim’s

Church on Thursday night to hear Bishop Jaime Soto address an ongoing

conflict between the Latino parishioners and the Rev. Joseph

Robillard.

Robillard came under fire last month when members of the Latino

community protested against him, mainly because they feel they are

mistreated during church services.

Organizers of the protest say they have tried to meet with

Robillard since the original demonstration occurred on Sept. 16, but

to no avail. They say they hope Soto’s presence at St. Joachim’s can

foster a sense of understanding and trust.

“We’ve been passing through many conflicts with [Robillard],”

parishioner Lucy Rosales said. “We have serious communication

problems with him and hope for reconciliation.”

Soto, who is with the Diocese of Orange, said he came to hear the

community’s concerns and see what can be done to achieve a

reconciliation and a collaborative, trusting environment.

“This is an important institution for the Westside, and we want to

do what we can and ensure it remains a sign and an instrument for the

faith and culture of the Westside,” said Soto, who became the

diocese’s first Latino auxiliary bishop in 2000.

The protest in September was to express the Latino parishioners’

dissatisfaction with the way they say Robillard treats them during

sacraments, confessions and other Catholic rites. Protest organizers

also claimed that Robillard had referred to members of the Latino

community as “pigs” in Spanish and had fired four employees of the

Vida Familiar, the Family Life group run by the parish, for what they

perceived as no real reason.

Robillard called the group’s allegations “a bunch of lies” and

said three of the four employees were fired because of budgetary

constraints. He had no comment on Soto’s talk before it began.

Rosales said there had been no positive talks between the two

sides since the protest. And Robillard had gone ahead and hired some

new employees, despite the budgetary constraints, she said.

Robillard said he did hire some new employees, but they are not

direct replacements, because the responsibilities of the positions

have changed.

Teresa Sanabria, 16, came to hear Soto’s speech, holding a sign in

Spanish that read, “We want a group of young people in Spanish,” to

show her desire for a young parishioners group that can converse with

Robillard in Spanish.

“We were raised in an Hispanic culture, and some of us don’t know

the English prayers,” Sanabria said, adding that she thought Soto’s

address to the parishioners would be helpful in achieving a solution

to the discord.

If Soto’s speech does not achieve some reconciliation, the Latino

community will next take their concerns to the Archdiocese, Hugo

Espinoza said.

To further illustrate the pain and suffering they are feeling,

parishioners may go without food, Rosales said.

“If we have to go to the extreme of not eating, we will do it,”

Rosales said.

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa and may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at deirdre.newman@latimes.com.