parishioner

Yet the parishioners hope his message will endure.

Where since the 1980s, Father John Moretta has counseled parishioners at Resurrection Church in Boyle Heights on the troubles that afflict their neighborhood.

Francis' positions had drawn backlash from some conservative parishioners, who objected to his suggestion that divorced Catholics could still receive the Eucharist, and more recently, his objection to Trump's deportation plans.

"As a parish, as the vicar of the parish and as parishioners, we're custodians of the whole church," said Archdeacon David Pierpoint.

Black parishioners make up half of his congregation, he said.