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.
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