gonzález rubio continued to serve as the administrator of mission santa barbara and came into conflict with the presiding bishop of the diocese of monterey-los angeles, bishop thaddeus amat, over the question of jurisdiction over the mission. gonzález rubio argued that the mission was rightfully under the franciscan order, not the diocese. during the dispute, the united states annexed california as a result of the mexican american war. on march 18, 1865, president abraham lincoln restored the california missions to the catholic church. the deed to mission santa barbara was given to the diocese, not the franciscans. gonzález rubio protested, but bishop amat refused to give up the deed to the mission. however, in 1925, bishop john j. cantwell handed the deed over to the franciscans at mission santa barbara.