Archbishop of Ottawa-Cornwall apologizes for Catholic Church's role in residential school system
The Archbishop of Ottawa-Cornwall has apologized for the Catholic Church's role in Canada's residential school system and has called on Pope Francis to do the same.
In a video posted to the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall's YouTube channel, Archbishop Marcel Damphousse said the discovery of the remains of 215 children at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops B.C. has marred this year's National Indigenous People's Day.
"I am at a loss for words to describe the situation," he said. "In the past few weeks, I have been reading more and listening to better understand the reality of the residential schools but also the impact it had on the Indigenous peoples.
"As a bishop, I join with other bishops and religious leaders in Canada, expressing my apology for the role the Church played in the residential school system."
The discovery in Kamloops sent shockwaves across Canada and put the residential school system into renewed focus.
Approximately 150,000 First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children were separated from their families and forced to attend boarding schools from the late 1800s to as recently as 1996. There, they were often subjected to physical and sexual abuse and at least one in every 50 of these students died, according to the findings from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
A memorial is pictured at the Eternal flame on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, June 1, 2021, in recognition of discovery of children's remains at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
(A memorial is pictured at the Eternal flame on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, June 1, 2021, in recognition of discovery of children's remains at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick)
The Catholic Church administrated many of Canada's residential schools, including the one in Kamloops.
"Words cannot undo the hurt or return the deceased children to their families," Damphousse said.
"As a member of the Catholic Church and as a bishop, I am so sorry," he continued. "I know I am not alone in my sorrow and contrition. I add my voice to those who are asking the Holy Father for an apology to Indigenous peoples of Canada."
Pope acknowledged Kamloops discovery but has not apologized
Calls to have Pope Francis formally apologize for the Roman Catholic Church's role in operating residential schools have been renewed since the discovery in Kamloops. A Change.org petition is calling on the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops to invite the Pope to Canada to "make a public apology on behalf of the Church in Canada for our sins of commission and omission in the matter of Residential Schools."
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also called for a formal apology from the Catholic Church.
In early June, Pope Francis expressed pain over the news of the discovery, saying, "This sad discovery adds to the awareness of the sorrows and sufferings of the past." However, he did not apologize.
Pope Francis speaks from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at The Vatican to a crowd of faithful and pilgrims gathered for the Sunday Angelus noon prayer, Sunday, June 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
(Pope Francis speaks from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at The Vatican to a crowd of faithful and pilgrims gathered for the Sunday Angelus noon prayer, Sunday, June 6, 2021. AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
A formal papal apology on Canadian soil was one of the calls to action in the TRC's final report in 2015.
Damphousse closed his video by apologizing once again and praying for change.
"As we celebrate National Indigenous People's Day, I extend my sincere apology for the involvement of the Catholic Church in the residential school system and I pray for healing, as a church in Canada walks the path of reconciliation with the Indigenous people in our community," he said.
--
If you are a former residential school student in distress, or have been affected by the residential school system and need help, you can contact the 24-hour Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419.
Additional mental-health support and resources for Indigenous people are available here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
B.C. theatre to pay $55K to neurodivergent actor in discrimination case
British Columbia's human rights tribunal has awarded a neurodigergent actor, who was diagnosed with sensory and learning disorders, more than $55,000 after finding that a Kelowna theatre company discriminated against him because of his disabilities.
Who's responsible for regulating cannabis stores operating under the sovereignty banner?
It's not quite clear who is supposed to be regulating so-called sovereign cannabis stores or even ensure they're benefiting Indigenous communities.