Interview with Rene Henry Gracida

Bishop Gracida is a former Benedictine Monk. After serving in the Army Air Corps. 303d
"Hell's Angels" Bombardment Group as a gunner pilot during WWII, Bishop Gracida trained as
an architect. During the war, Bishop Gracida was one of the pilots that flew over and fire
bombed Dresden. Following his time in the Army, he had a conversion experience and entered a
St Vincent Benedictine monastery. Thanks to his training as an architect, he assisted in the
building of the church for the monastery, and later, ran into troubles with his Archabbot over
building issues with a dormitory. This soured his relationship with the Archabbot, leading him to
becoming a priest in the Archdiocese of Miami, where he served faithfully as a priest for thirteen
years, all prior to his being named a bishop of the Roman Catholic Church.
In his interview, he discusses his time in the Army Air Corps. He goes on to discuss his
conversion experience back to the faith that led him to his vocation. Additionally, he discusses
the political entity that is the Catholic Church, and the machinations of the Church. He discusses
controversial topics from the death penalty and abortion to sanctuary and a controversy over the
singer Madonna and the Pepsi Co. Corporation. He discusses his interactions with Archbishop
Coleman Caroll extensively, as well as his time as the first bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee.