The Catholic bishops of Canada have formally apologised to the country’s indigenous peoples for the Church’s role in running residential schools. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement acknowledging “the grave abuses” committed at the schools “by some members of our Catholic community”.
The abuses, they said, were “physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual, cultural, and sexual”. While acknowledging that other Catholic groups involved in operating the schools had “already offered their own heartfelt apologies” the bishops said: “We, the Catholic Bishops of Canada, express our profound remorse and apologise unequivocally.”
In what amounts t their most comprehensive statement of contrition to date, the bishops promised to launch fundraising campaigns across Canada to support projects proposed by Indigenous communities.
They highlighted plans for Pope Francis to meet with a delegation of Indigenous survivors in Rome in December. And they pledged to work with the Holy See and Indigenous partners “on the possibility of a pastoral visit by the Pope to Canada as part of this healing journey”. They added: “We also sorrowfully acknowledge the historical and ongoing trauma and the legacy of suffering and challenges faced by Indigenous Peoples that continue to this day.”
Bishop Raymond Poisson of Saint-Jérôme and Mont-Laurier dioceses in Quebec, who is the new president of the Canadian Bishops’ Conference, underlined the significance of the apology.
“This is the first time that, officially, all the Bishops of Canada have unanimously made an apology,” said Bishop Poisson. He reported that the Church in Canada is made up of around 65 dioceses and it is important that they have agreed with one voice to issue such an apology. “Every Bishop voted for this apology,” he said. The statement was made at the end of the annual plenary assembly for the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.
More than 1,200 unmarked graves were discovered earlier this year at several former residential-school sites. The discoveries prompted outrage and protest across Canada and calls for financial reparations and apologies from both the Canadian Church and Pope Francis. Many Catholic religious communities and dioceses participated in the residential-schools system and have now acknowledged that it led to the suppression of Indigenous languages, culture and spirituality.
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