Hard days for Catholics in Marin County and California’s climate of ridicule

Sherman R. Frederick/Properly Subversive

It’s a hard road for Catholics in California these days. 

In Marin, the church faithful took a hit in a so-called “restorative” justice decision that let five people off with a pat on the head after they, in the light of day and in front of television news cameras, trespassed on church property in San Rafael and destroyed a piece of religious art, a statue of  St. Junipero Serra. 

Serra for some is a controversial figure for his treatment of indigenous people in the 1750s. I get the angst. I also get the devotion the church faithful have for saints. But the question before Marin District Attorney Lori Frugoli wasn’t about history. It was about what, exactly, is the penalty in 2023 for trespassing and destroying a religious piece of art? 

Her answer – nothing much. 

She dropped the felony charges against the protesting five. Restitution to the church will be paid for by some defense fund, not out of the pockets of the actual wrongdoers. And, to add insult to injury, in 12 months the new misdemeanor charges will be fully erased. For the destroyers, It will be as if the crime never happened. 

That’s a bad precedent because now every tortured soul who feels aggrieved in the latest pop history theory will see this capitulation in Marin as a green light to take matters into their own hands.

It’s a form of hate for Catholics and Marin isn’t the only place it takes shape. In Los Angeles a group called the “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence” will get a “Community Hero Award” on LGBTQ+ Pride Night at the Dodgers baseball game. 

Gudgawdalmighty, think about that for a second. 

The “Sisters” dress up as nuns to mock Catholics. Their motto is “go and sin some more.” Stage names include “Sister Anal Receptive.” The group hosts pub crawls mocking the rite of the Stations of the Cross.

I’m only pointing out what should be obvious to all good people: There’s a big difference between  “tolerating” a bigoted comedy routine and “celebrating” it. 

There is also a difference between administering justice that is fair to all and fundamentally excusing lawless behavior. 

Watching the Marin D.A. ‘s office and the Dodgers front office defend the encouragement of hateful acts against Catholics is like watching a bird hit a picture window and then spasm into the next life.

It’s sad to watch.

(Postscript: The “Serra Five” have to submit written apologies for their actions. D.A. Frugoli says the five are really, really, really sorry for what they did. I bet they are not, but we’ll see what these written apologies look like.)

GOING FROM STRANGE TO STRANGER

Kudos to Independent Journal reporter Will Houston for digging out via a public records request the new information that the City of Novato will pay former police chief Beth Johnson $57,000 in severance. 

Severance for a person who was on the job for less than a year? Good work if you can get it. 

The City Council members remain mum on the severance give-a-way and the departure.

I’ve found Novato City Manager Adam McGill to be a straightforward public official. But even he has been uncharacteristically coy in explaining this departure. 

This strange deal just got stranger. Somebody ought to explain it to taxpayers.

ONE MORE THING

– If a guide dog judges that a command is unsafe, it will refuse the command. This is called ‘Intelligent disobedience.’ Now, if only humans can learn this skill…

– 8-year-old singing quietly to herself: “Dancing queen, young and sweet, only seven teeth.”

Thanks for reading. Until next week, avoid sore heads, laugh a little and always question authority. 

(“Properly Subversive” is a commentary written by Sherman R. Frederick for Marinscope Community Newspapers, the “mother ship” of the Novato Advance, San Rafael News-Pointer, Mill Valley Herald, Ross Valley Reporter, Twin City Times and the Sausalito Marin Scope. Mr. Frederick is an award-winning journalist and co-founder of Battle Born Media, a news organization dedicated to the preservation of community newspapers. You can reach him by email at shermfrederick@gmail.com.)