The History of Father Junipero Serra Confirmation Controversy

Jun 15, 2015

This is part of a series on Junipero Serra. To read the full series, click here.

THE so-called "Confirmation controversy" was long a source of agitation to Fray Junípero Serra and the other missionaries in Alta California. Worse than that, it infringed on the spiritual welfare of the neophytes because it threatened to deprive them of the sacrament. 

By virtue of the Patronato Real, papal briefs issued in favor of New Spain required the royal pase before they could be implemented. In addition, the viceroy or his delegate also enjoyed the privilege of issuing the pase in his designated territory. Governor Felipe de Neve was not unwilling to affix his pase to the document from Pope Clement XIV authorizing him to confirm, but Serra did not have in hand the document. It was at the Franciscan headquarters in Mexico City. 

The Presidente and the governor held several lengthy conferences about the issue, but the governor insisted that he had to comply with the directives of issuing the pase only on presentation of the official documents. Throughout this entire case, neither Serra nor the officials at San Fernando College ever brought up the question as to whether a papal document treating purely spiritual things actually depended on the royal pase for its use and execution. Had such an argument been used, the missionary work might have been greatly hampered. 

The friars had to fit their activity into the strong regalism of the eighteenth century if they wished to accomplish anything at all. They were consistently careful that all the negotiations were conducted in a friendly manner. It was a battle of wits over the interpretation of the Patronato. 

Serra's conscience was clear. He confirmed by the delegated authority of the pope. Hence the confirmations he conferred were valid and licit. As far as the royal patronage was concerned, Serra at no time denied that it applied, but he maintained that its demands had been met. 

The Presidente also used the practical argument that spiritual damage and scandal would result if he ceased to confirm. It was a delicate situation. Had he been hot-headed and loose of tongue, he might have stirred up trouble among the people. He was careful to be prudent, lest the disagreement leak out to them. 

Neve represented the strongly regalistic position of the king. As vice-patron of the king over the province of California, he had been vigilant from the start concerning the royal pase. At first, like Serra, he presumed the pase had been given and even told Serra he could confirm. 

However, when he received the royal cedula of November 23, 1777, tightening up the operational directives of the Patronato Real the governor felt obliged to direct Serra to stop confirming until the actual papers arrived. It was a matter of interpretation. Neve interpreted the matter strictly, Serra did so liberally. 

Writing later about the matter, Fray Francisco Palou imputed no evil intentions to Neve. He said "we are not to believe that the governor did this through malice, but as he had no advisor near, he acted according to his best judgement, presuming that this was what he ought to do." Nor did Serra calumniate Neve. He merely called him sagacious, a quality which the Presidente on another occasion said he would have to match with the wisdom of the serpent. 

It was obvious enough that the vexing question, and it was a terribly important one to the friars, could not be settled on Monterey. For a while, at least, the conferral of confirmation would have to be halted.