Catholic bishop hopes residential school apology will improve Indigenous relations
A frontrunner in Canada’s nationwide meeting of Catholic bishops says he hopes an apology for the harms endured at residential colleges may mark a turning level within the church’s relations with Indigenous Peoples.
However some Indigenous leaders say it stays to be seen whether or not the remorseful sentiments can be backed up by significant steps towards reconciliation.
Bishop William McGrattan, vice-president of the Canadian Convention of Catholic Bishops, says there are plans to develop on the commitments outlined in Friday’s “unequivocal apology” for the abuses dedicated by members of the church neighborhood who have been concerned in operating residential colleges.
The bishops have promised to offer data that would assist “memorialize” the scholars believed to be buried in unmarked graves, increase cash for initiatives endorsed by Indigenous leaders and work on getting the Pope to go to Canada.
Meeting of First Nations Nationwide Chief RoseAnne Archibald says she welcomes the apology, however was disillusioned that the bishops did not cross a decision to formally invite the Pope to Canada to apologize to residential faculty survivors, their households and communities.
McGrattan says plans for the Pope to satisfy with an Indigenous delegation travelling to the Vatican in December needs to be a “first step” towards securing the apology referred to as for by the Reality and Reconciliation Fee.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Sept. 26, 2021.
