Pope begs forgiveness of Indigenous for Canada school abuses

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By NICOLE WINFIELD

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis apologized and begged forgiveness Friday for the “deplorable” abuses suffered by Indigenous Peoples in Canada’s residential schools, saying he was ashamed and indignant at all they had endured at the hands of Catholic educators.

Francis made the apology and vowed to visit Canada during an audience with dozens of members of the Metis, Inuit and First Nations communities who came to Rome seeking a papal apology and a commitment for the Catholic Church to repair the damage.

More than 150,000 native children in Canada were forced to attend state-funded Christian schools from the 19th century until the 1970s in an effort to isolate them from the influence of their homes and culture. The aim was to Christianize and assimilate them into mainstream society, which previous Canadian governments considered superior.

“For the deplorable conduct of those members of the Catholic Church, I ask forgiveness of the Lord,” Francis said. “And I want to tell you from my heart, that I am greatly pained. And I unite myself with the Canadian bishops in apologizing.”



Former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Phil Fontaine, left, stands outside St. Peter's Square at the end of a meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican, Thursday, March 31, 2022. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-europe-religion-vatican-city-08a842346f2dd0ca645571d879d3124a

[SWBTATTReg]

1. Just how many abuses is the Church responsible for, across the length and width of history?

It seems like day by day, more and more abuses are discovered.

[IronLionZion]

5. If they allowed women and married people to be priests

they might have fewer abusers. It's time to diversify.

[2naSalit]

2. Gonna have to do more than that.

They ruined the lives of generations of indigenous peoples everywhere they went.

[Crazyleftie]

3. They need to transfer their swiss bank accounts

to the first nations.....

[catbyte]

4. In the U.S., too. There's a reason why only 4% of us identify as "Christian."

[wnylib]

8. Yes, while all the focus is on the abuses in Canada,

few people know that the idea of assimilation schools originated in the US with the Carlisle Industrial School, founded by Brigadier General Richard Henry Pratt. He is the one who said about the schools that they should "kill the Indian but save the man."

You may be aware of this, but many people are not.

The US government approved the establishment of the schools, allocated some funding, but turned over the operation of the schools to various churches.

Canada picked up the idea from the US.

The same kinds of abuses being reported and faced in Canada occurred in the US. The difference is that Canada acknowledges it and has established a reconciliation program. The US has not.

But, Interior Secretary Haaland has started investogations into the abuses at US schools, too.

[Cobalt Violet]

6. How about ending the Doctrine of Discovery already?!

It's going to take a lot more than an apology.

[RevBrotherThomas]

7. It's a start...

Francis seems sincere, but he won't be Pope forever. The Church as an institution doesn't embrace the current Pope's authentic pastoral and humble nature.

If the Roman Church as an institution doesn't do her own penance and make generational amends to First Nations People, it will ring hollow. And like so many other issues where "terrible mistakes were made" by Roman clergy and religious, I fear that it is precisely what will happen.