“We Catholic Bishops of Canada express our deepest remorse and unequivocally apologize,” a statement from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) said, according to local media.
The document recognizes the cases as “serious abuses by some members of the Catholic community”, which have led to “the suppression of indigenous languages, culture and spirituality, not respecting the rich history, traditions and wisdom of these peoples “.
“We also sadly recognize the historical trauma and legacy of suffering and challenges facing indigenous peoples that continue to this day,” the note adds.
The first excuse comes “with the Catholic entities which have been directly involved in the operation of the schools”.
The change in posture follows the recent discovery of hundreds of unidentified graves of Indigenous children in schools where students have been physically and sexually assaulted by principals and teachers who have deprived them of their language and culture.
From the 19th century to the 1970s, at least 150,000 Indigenous children were forced to attend so-called “Indian Residential Schools,” a network funded by the Canadian government and administered by the Catholic Church, as part of a campaign to to assimilate them to the dominant culture. . However, the children were victims of abuse. The last school closed in the 90s.
Recently, more than 1,200 unidentified graves on former school grounds were discovered in the provinces of British Columbia and Saskatchewan and rocked Canada.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the story “shameful” and criticized worshipers for not providing full access to documents related to the institutions.
However, according to Canadian newspapers, the bishops said they “will continue the work of providing documents or records that will help memorialize those buried in anonymous graves.”
In addition, he stressed that he will launch new fundraising initiatives in all regions of the country “to support initiatives discerned locally with indigenous partners”, in addition to existing ones to promote healing and reconciliation.
So far, the Vatican, for its part, has never apologized for its treatment of indigenous children. However, Pope Francis will receive a delegation of indigenous peoples from Canada in December.
The CCCB even declared that this meeting aims to determine how the Pope “can support the common desire to renew relations and to walk together on the path of hope for the years to come”.
“We are committed to working with the Holy See and our Indigenous partners on the possibility of a Pope’s pastoral visit to Canada as part of this healing journey,” the statement concludes.
(ANSA)
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