Current Problems: Church Apologies and Reconciliation (58-61)

Exploring Stakeholder: "Catholic Church"

Updates on this page: 36
 

March 14, 2024


The Church has chosen to burn bridges with Inuit instead of aiming for justice

Special to The Globe and Mail: Tanya Taluga – Inuit leader Natan Obed’s plea to the head of the Catholic Church to intervene on the extradition of a French Oblate priest charged with sexual assault in Canada was one of the most poignant moments I witnessed in Rome in 2022. Mr. Obed, the president of...

July 25, 2023


Maskwacis Pope anniversary: One year later, a need for more action

It’s been one year since Pope Francis told the assembled crowd: ‘I am deeply sorry’ CBC News: One year ago, Peyasu Wuttunee stood at a sacred fire in Maskwacis, Alta., next to residential school survivors and their family members. He was there to offer support as people dried their tears with tissues, placed them in...

July 22, 2023


Residential school survivors still waiting for next steps a year after papal visit

Some survivors say they feel ‘used’ and ‘disappointed’ by lack of progress A year after the Pope’s visit, Indigenous people frustrated by slow church action: Duration 2:12 Indigenous people in Canada are disappointed by what they say is delayed action from the Catholic Church one year after Pope Francis visited Canada and apologized for the church’s...

June 13, 2023


Catholic Church’s reconciliation fund draws mixed reaction from residential school survivors

$10M of promised $30M has been raised following questions about past compensation efforts CBC News: A national Catholic Church reconciliation fund is one-third of the way to its $30-million target. One church-appointed survivor overseeing the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund said it’s a good start, but other survivors said the church doesn’t appear to be making a serious effort. ” ‘We’ll get there...

March 15, 2023


Former Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations chief unhappy with lack of progress after papal visit

NationTalk: Global News: George Arcand Jr., the former grand chief of the Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations, says more than six months after Pope Francis visited Canada to deliver an apology on his people’s land, contact between First Nations leaders, Ottawa and the church has been almost non-existent. Ahead of his departure from the...

October 1, 2022


Catholic Church says it will take 4 more years to raise $30M for survivors

CCCB pledges continued reconciliation efforts, but territorial questions remain. APTN News: The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) concluded its four-day plenary assembly with a press conference where they announced further efforts towards reconciliation – but not the cash promised to go with it.   Last year, the CCCB announced it would raise $30 million for...

August 20, 2022


Deal freeing Catholic entities from $25M campaign for residential schools released

Canadian Press: OTTAWA – Canada agreed to “forever discharge” Catholic entities from their promise to raise $25 million for residential school survivors and also picked up their legal bill, a final release document shows.  The Canadian Press obtained a signed copy of the 2015 agreement through federal Access-to-Information laws, marking what appears to be the...

July 30, 2022


Why Pope Francis may be hesitant to rescind the Doctrine of Discovery

CBC: Pope Francis’s apology for the Catholic Church’s role in Indigenous residential schools in Canada has raised questions about whether he would formally rescind the church’s Doctrine of Discovery. The doctrine, dating back to the 15th century, included a series of edicts known as papal bulls, that were later used to justify colonizing Indigenous lands. But any hesitation...

July 30, 2022


Pope says Indigenous people suffered genocide at residential schools

Toronto Star: ROME – Pope Francis says the abuses Indigenous Peoples faced while being forced to attend residential schools amounted to genocide. The pontiff made the comment Friday to reporters on his flight from Iqaluit back to Rome following his six-day tour of Canada. Francis apologized multiple times throughout the week for the role the...

July 28, 2022


Pope Francis acknowledges ‘sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable people’ for first time on Canadian trip

QUEBEC CITY—On his second-last day in Canada, Pope Francis for the first time acknowledged the “sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable people” committed by members of the Catholic Church in residential schools. Speaking during an evening prayer session with Catholic cardinals, bishops and other members of the clergy, the Pope said that the church must...

July 27, 2022


In U.S., Indigenous groups echo Canadian complaints that Pope’s apology falls short

Indian Country Today (ICT) – Canadian Press: WASHINGTON – The “penitential pilgrimage” by Pope Francis to heal the relationship between Indigenous Peoples in Canada and the Catholic Church has been resonating in the United States, a country coming to terms with its own troubled history of residential schools.  In U.S., too, faint praise for papal...

July 27, 2022


Representative’s Statement on Pope Francis’s Visit to Canada

“The most important day of an apology is the day after, and the year after. We all need to be looking at what the Pope does then.” Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director, First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada NationTalk: With those wise words, Dr. Blackstock this week crystalized the essence of Pope Francis’s...

July 26, 2022


Métis National Council president on split reaction to papal apology

CTV News Edmonton: Métis reaction to Pope Francis’ apology to Indigenous People in Canada on Monday was mixed, with some accepting the pontiff’s words as genuine, others wanting more, and many demanding their trauma be recognized more fully. “Reconciliation – it didn’t begin and it didn’t happen today. Though we did, I feel, make another...

July 26, 2022


First Nations leaders call for Pope Francis to rescind Doctrine of Discovery

NationTalk: Xʷməθkʷəyə̓m (Musqueam), Sḵwxwú7mesẖ (Squamish) and səlilw̓ətaʔɬ/sel̓ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, BC) — The First Nations Summit (FNS) recognizes and appreciates yesterday’s historic apology from Pope Francis and calls on the Pope to put substance and positive action to his words and continue to address the wrongs of the Catholic Church by rescinding the Papal Bull on the...

July 26, 2022


MKO Response to Papal Apology

Treaty Six Territory, Edmonton, AB – Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc. (MKO) is issuing the following statement in response to the Papal apology delivered by the Pope on July 25, 2022. Grand Chief Garrison Settee states: “Taking the time to accompany MKO Survivors to attend a historic meeting with the Pope in Treaty Six territory was...

July 26, 2022


Pope’s apology doesn’t acknowledge church’s role as ‘co-author’ of dark chapter: Murray Sinclair

CBC: The former Manitoba senator who chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada says there’s a “deep hole” in the apology issued by Pope Francis Monday for the role Catholics played in Canada’s residential school system. Murray Sinclair says the historic apology, although meaningful to many residential school survivors and their families, fell short of Call to Action...

July 25, 2022


National Chief RoseAnne Archibald finds Pope Francis’ apology falls short

CBC: Although AFN National Chief RoseAnne Archibald appreciated the personal nature of Pope Francis’ apology she also felt that the apology fell short on a number of fronts: Failure to rescind the Doctrine of Discovery that was the primary instrument of colonization for the stealing of Indigenous land and genocide of Indigenous people. This doctrine...

July 25, 2022


AMC and AFN Manitoba Respond to the Pope Francis’ Apology

NationTalk: TREATY SIX TERRITORY, ALBERTA – Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Regional Chief Cindy Woodhouse, Indian day School Survivor, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) Acting Grand Chief Cornell McLean, and Residential School Survivors, including former AFN National Chief Phil Fontaine, today reflected on Pope Francis’ historic apology on Treaty Six Territory. The Pope’s six-day visit...

July 22, 2022


Invialuit Statement on Pope’s visit

Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC) has respectfully declined an invitation to participate in the Papal visit to Iqaluit on July 29, 2022, as it remains unclear if a formal apology will be made or not. The Roman Catholic Church operated three (3) residential schools in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR). Inuvialuit continue to bear the burden...

July 22, 2022


Letter from National Chief and Regional Chief to Prime Minister and Governor General on Papal Visit

Governor General of CanadaRideau Hall1 Sussex Drive Ottawa, OntarioK1A 0A1                                                       Sent via email The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P.Prime Minister of CanadaLangevin BlockOttawa, OntarioK1A 0A2                                                       Sent via email Re: Apostolic Journey of His Holiness Pope Francis to Canada Dear Excellency and Prime Minister, I am grateful for my invitation to the Citadelle upon the...

June 24, 2022


Pope to visit former residential school

Toronto Star – The program for Pope Francis’s trip to Canada next month includes a visit to the site of a former Alberta residential school with survivors, the Vatican said Thursday. The papal visit is set to start in Edmonton on July 24 and end in Iqaluit on July 29. It is to include public...

April 1, 2022


Pope Francis offers a partial apology

Pope Francis apologized to the delegation of First Nations, Métis and Inuit residential school survivors who travelled to Rome for meetings at the Vatican. The apology , however, was “For the deplorable conduct of these members of the Catholic Church, I ask for God’s forgiveness”. Not the role of the Catholic Church itself but individuals...

January 28, 2022


Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops establish a new registered charity

Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops – Canada’s Catholic Bishops have agreed to establish a new registered charity to support and advance healing and reconciliation initiatives. The charity is expected to manage the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund, which will accept contributions from 73 dioceses across Canada in order to fulfill the $30 million financial commitment made by...

December 21, 2021


Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller open to an independent review of the residential school compensation deal

CBC – Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller says he’s “absolutely open” to an independent review of the residential school compensation deal reached between the federal government and Catholic Church….Advocates say while that’s encouraging news, Miller could show good faith by immediately releasing key government documents related to the deal he admits are already in his...

November 10, 2021


Indigenous Delegation to meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican

Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops – announce that 25-30 First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Elders, knowledge keepers, residential school survivors, and youth will meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican from December 17-20, 2021, accompanied by a small group of Canadian Bishops. The delegation has been planned through ongoing dialogue with the Assembly of First...

October 27, 2021


Pope Francis agrees to make an “apostolic journey to Canada”

CBC – The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops announced that Pope Francis had accepted their invitation to make “an apostolic journey to Canada “also in the context of the long-standing pastoral process of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.” Rev. Raymond Poisson, CCCB president. “We pray that Pope Francis’ visit to Canada will be a significant milestone...

September 28, 2021


Examination of “in-kind log raises questions about legitimacy of services delivered

Globe and Mail – Documents obtained by the Globe and Mail through an access-to-information request to the federal government include an “in-kind log.” It contains brief descriptions of the services provided by Catholic entities. Those services were required under a national residential schools settlement reached between Indigenous groups, former students, the federal government and religious...

September 27, 2021


Bishops of Canada commit to nation-wide collective financial target of $30 million

Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops – The Bishops of Canada are making a nation-wide collective financial commitment to support healing and reconciliation initiatives for residential school survivors, their families, and their communities. With a target of $30 million over up to five years, this will include initiatives in every region of the country. The commitment...

September 24, 2021


Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops open letter of apology to Indigenous people

Global News – In an open letter, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) expressed their “profound remorse” for their participation in the system, which led to the suppression of Indigenous languages and culture. “We acknowledge the grave abuses that were committed by some members of our Catholic community; physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual, cultural, and...

July 16, 2021


Court officials refuse to release Catholic Church document describing “In-Kind Services”

CBC – A Roman Catholic Church document claiming the church provided $25 million of “in-kind services” to residential school survivors is sitting inside a Regina courthouse, but officials are refusing to release it. The document is said to outline “in-kind services” that the church agreed to provide as part of a deal reached with the...

July 6, 2021


$292M fundraising for Church vs $3.9M for Indian Residential school survivors

CBC – Catholic officials said in 2015 that they could only fundraise a total of $3.9 of the $25M they were asked to fundraise for residential school survivors. However, since signing the landmark Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement in 2005, Canadian Catholic dioceses have either spent or are fundraising $292 million for cathedrals and other...

July 1, 2021


Pope Francis agrees to meet Indigenous representatives

Associated Press – “Pope Francis has agreed to meet with Indigenous survivors of Canada’s notorious residential schools amid calls for a papal apology for the Catholic Church’s role in the abuse and death of thousands of native children.”...

June 7, 2021


Pope Francis response to discovery of unmarked graves at Kamloops IRS

Toronto Star – “In a speech Sunday in St. Peter’s Square, and in a statement posted on Twitter, Pope Francis addressed the news that the remains of 215 children had been found at a former residential school site in Kamloops, B.C. expressing his ‘closeness to the Canadian People who had been traumatized by (the) shocking...

May 2, 2018


Parliament calls on Pope Francis to apologize and for Church to resume fund raising efforts

Toronto Star – Parliament of Canada votes 269 to 10 across all party lines to call on Pope Francis to apologize for the Catholic Church’s role in the Indigenous Residential School system and also to call on the Catholic Church to “resume best efforts” to raise funds as agreed in the 2006 settlement deal between...

March 28, 2018


Pope Francis refuse to apologize

Refusal of Pope Francis to apologize for the role in operating and managing up to 60% of the Residential schools in Canada. Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops stated that the pope could not “personally” apologize.“ The Catholic Church is the only church that has not formally apologized to the survivors. Perry Bellegarde, National Chief for...

January 6, 2016


Reimbursements to other Church Parties

Catholic Register – As a result of the Catholic fundraising campaign falling more than 80 per cent short of its goal, a reimbursement has been made to the other church parties to the Settlement Agreement: Anglican Church of Canada: $2.8M to apply to its ongoing Anglican Fund for Healing and Reconciliation, which runs reconciliation projects in...

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