The Mission in San Juan Bautista needs help. Time and the
elements have taken their toll. It’s foundation needs to be
inspected to ensure it is earthquake safe. It needs rest rooms. And
some of it’s historic artifacts are exposed.
The Mission in San Juan Bautista needs help. Time and the elements have taken their toll. It’s foundation needs to be inspected to ensure it is earthquake safe. It needs rest rooms. And some of it’s historic artifacts are exposed.
Help could be on the way. A bill by Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-California, that would give $10 million to repair California’s 21 aging missions, passed the Senate this week and is on it’s way to the House. And, the California Missions Foundation is dedicated to raising money to preserve an invaluable piece of our heritage. The way the bill works is it would dedicate that $10 million to restoring California’s missions if there are matching state and private funds. The Missions Foundation is aiming to raise $50 million.
And, the foundation’s Executive Director Knox Mellon, who toured the San Juan Mission about six weeks ago, said the local mission should be a high priority and clearly needs financial help.
That too is good news. But there is work that needs to get done to ensure the money comes to the mission.
First, the bill has to pass through the House. Congressman Sam Farr, D-Carmel, who sponsored an earlier House version of the bill, should help shepherd this one to the president’s desk.
Second, there is a debate over whether giving federal money to preserve missions, many of which belong to the Catholic Church, is a violation of the separation of church and state. The bill must pass scrutiny by the Department of Justice before funds are released. Mission San Juan is a historic landmark, an important piece of California history, that happens to be a church. It’s open to the public for tours. It’s a teaching site for California kids. And it’s a important economic engine for San Juan Bautista. In California, there are few institutions that have had a greater historic role or cultural impact than the Spanish missions. It’s clear they serves much more than a religious role.
Finally, we call on you to help. The California Missions Foundation needs matching money to make repairs to the state’s missions. If we pass the plate, we could see those improvements materialize. To donate go to www.missionsofcalifornia.org and click on the donations button at the top.
There is no doubt that Mission San Juan Bautista is one of the biggest tourist draws around for our county. Every year, thousands of fourth graders come to the mission to learn about this essential piece of California history. Ensuring the mission continues to draw tourists should be a top priority.
