Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned the burning and destruction of Catholic churches after the discovery of anonymous graves and a former school for Indigenous children. Several Catholic churches were recently vandalized or set on fire following the discovery of more than 1,100 anonymous graves at the sites of three former church-run schools in British Columbia and Saskatchewan. Generations of indigenous children during this time were forced to go to school.
The country also saw a series of attacks on Thursday (1/7), Canada Day, in which statues of Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth and other historical figures were vandalized.
Trudeau, who is also a Catholic, said he understands the anger many feel against the federal government and the Catholic Church.
The government apologized for the schools and also asked Pope Francis for a formal apology.
“It’s real and perfectly understandable given the shameful story that wakes us all up,” he said at a press conference.
Statues of Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth in the Manitoba Legislative Court on Thursday, tied with rope and pulled by crowds. [ps/ah]
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