Gabino Zavala
Encyclopedia
Bishop Gabino Zavala currently serves as the Auxiliary Bishop
of the San Gabriel Pastoral Region
in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and is considered by some to be one of the most powerful and influential Latinos in the Church in the United States
today. Born in Mexico, Zavala grew up in Los Angeles
and was ordained a priest
on May 28, 1977. Bishop Zavala opposes the death penalty, supports young people, and is a long-time supporter of immigration reform, and although he is sometimes considered orthodox in his beliefs he has a long history of supporting controversial positions on homosexuality. He was honored in 2004 by Death Penalty Focus
for his efforts in reforming the criminal justice system and working to abolish the death penalty.
Zavala is involved with a number of organizations: he is the bishop president of the U.S. section of Pax Christi
, the international Catholic peace movement; the Co-President of Interfaith Worker Justice
, an organization committed to educating, mobilizing, and organizing the religious community to advocate for better wages and working conditions for low-wage workers; and he serves as the Episcopal advisor to the International Commission of Catholic Prison Pastoral Care (ICCPPC). Formerly rector of St. John's Seminary
in Camarillo
, CA, he also is an adjunct professor of Canon Law and Pastoral Theology in the graduate programs of Theology and Pastoral Theology at Loyola Marymount University
in Los Angeles.
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of the San Gabriel Pastoral Region
San Gabriel Pastoral Region
The San Gabriel Pastoral Region is a pastoral region of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in the Roman Catholic Church. It covers East Los Angeles through the San Gabriel and Pomona valleys. The current regional auxiliary bishop is Bishop Gabino Zavala...
in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and is considered by some to be one of the most powerful and influential Latinos in the Church in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
today. Born in Mexico, Zavala grew up in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and was ordained a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
on May 28, 1977. Bishop Zavala opposes the death penalty, supports young people, and is a long-time supporter of immigration reform, and although he is sometimes considered orthodox in his beliefs he has a long history of supporting controversial positions on homosexuality. He was honored in 2004 by Death Penalty Focus
Death Penalty Focus
Founded in 1988, Death Penalty Focus is a non-profit organization dedicated to the abolition of capital punishment through grassroots organizing, research, and the dissemination of information about the death penalty and its alternatives....
for his efforts in reforming the criminal justice system and working to abolish the death penalty.
Zavala is involved with a number of organizations: he is the bishop president of the U.S. section of Pax Christi
Pax Christi
-History:Pax Christi was established in France in 1945 as a reconciliation work between the French and the Germans after the Second World War. In 2007, it existed in more than 60 countries...
, the international Catholic peace movement; the Co-President of Interfaith Worker Justice
Interfaith Worker Justice
Interfaith Worker Justice is a nonprofit, nonpartisan religious organization that educates and mobilizes the religious people of all faiths in the United States on issues important to working people....
, an organization committed to educating, mobilizing, and organizing the religious community to advocate for better wages and working conditions for low-wage workers; and he serves as the Episcopal advisor to the International Commission of Catholic Prison Pastoral Care (ICCPPC). Formerly rector of St. John's Seminary
St. John's Seminary (California)
St. John's Seminary is a Roman Catholic seminary located in Camarillo, California. It is within the Santa Barbara Pastoral Region of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The seminarians prepare for assignments in dioceses as well as religious orders. St. John's offers the Master of Divinity degree as a...
in Camarillo
Camarillo, California
Camarillo is a city in Ventura County, California, United States. The population was 65,201 at the 2010 census, up from 57,084 at the 2000 census. The Ventura Freeway Camarillo is a city in Ventura County, California, United States. The population was 65,201 at the 2010 census, up from 57,084 at...
, CA, he also is an adjunct professor of Canon Law and Pastoral Theology in the graduate programs of Theology and Pastoral Theology at Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Marymount University is a comprehensive co-educational private Roman Catholic university in the Jesuit and Marymount traditions located in Los Angeles, California, United States...
in Los Angeles.