New Bishop of Diocese of Monterey welcomed to Central Coast

Tuesday morning, Pope Francis named Monsignor Daniel Garcia, currently an auxiliary bishop in Texas, the new bishop of Monterey, California.

Garcia arrived in California last night. He spoke at a press conference at the Diocese of Monterey Tuesday.

Daniel Garcia will replace Bishop Richard Garcia, who died earlier this year.

“We are called to live the good news and my hope is to continue the legacy that has already been put forth before me,” Bishop Daniel Garcia said.

Last month, attorney’s filed a lawsuit against California bishops in the Catholic Church alleging they are covering up child sex abuse.

The Diocese of Monterey is named among 10 others in California in the lawsuit, but the suit is primarily centering around alleged clerical sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Other dioceses named were asked to release the names and documented histories of all clerical offenders in their own churches.

The Diocese of Monterey tells KION they plan on releasing names “within the next few weeks”.

“Right now Bishop Wilkerson is working on that so it is my understanding that will be erased even before my arriving,” Garcia said. “We need to acknowledge the faults and the wrongs we’ve done in the past.”

Many church members are excited for the new bishop and have expectations of what will come with the position.

“One that’s not afraid to speak out and speak the truth and not trying to please the crowd but to please god,” Salinas resident Suzanne Stewart said.

Daniel Garcia will officially begin his role as bishop of the Diocese of Monterey January 30.