Gabino Zavala

Bishop Gabino Zavala (b. September 7, 1951 in Guerrero,Mexico) currently serves as the Auxiliary Bishop of the San Gabriel 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. Although he's sometimes considered orthodox in his beliefs Zavalo has a long history of supporting controversial positions on homosexuality, opposition to the death penalty and support of young peopleCite web|url=http://www.losangelesmission.com/ed/articles/2003/1203jf.htm|title=He's The Man: But Does Phoenix Need a Bishop Gabino Zavala?|accessdate=2008-02-10|year=2003-12|author=Jonathan Fierro|work=Los Angeles Lay Catholic Mission] and is a long-time supporter of immigration reform.Cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CEFDA1538F931A3575AC0A9659C8B63|title=Davis and His No. 2 Campaign Apart at Fair|accessdate=2008-02-10|year=2003-09-02|author=Dean E. Murphy, John M. Broder and Charlie Leduff|work=The New York Times] He was honored in 2004 for his efforts in reforming the criminal justice system and working to abolish the death penalty.Cite web|url=http://www.the-tidings.com/2004/0430/deathpen.htm|title=Bishop Zavala Honored for Death Penalty Reform Efforts|accessdate=2008-02-10|year=2004-04-30|author=Ellie Hidalgo|work=The Tidings]

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;Cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/12/politics/campaign/12catholics.html?pagewanted=2&th|title=Group of Bishops Using Influence to Oppose Kerry|accessdate=2008-02-10|year=2004-10-12|author=David Kirkpatrick and Laurie Goodstein|work=The New York Times] 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). Cite web|url=http://www.the-tidings.com/2007/092107/popeprisons.htm|title=At Rome Meeting, Pope Condemns Torture|accessdate=2008-02-10|year=2007-09-21|author=Fr. Michael Kennedy, Debbie McDermott and Sr. Suzanne Jabro|work=The Tidings]

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