Pope Francis acknowledges sexual abuse against residential school students for first time on papal tour
For the first time since the start of a Canadian tour highlighted by apologies for the church’s role in Indigenous residential schools, Pope Francis on Thursday acknowledged the sexual abuse inflicted on “minors and vulnerable people.”
He also said the Christian community must never again allow itself to be “infected” by the idea that one culture is superior to another, reiterating his plea for forgiveness. “The pain and the shame we feel must become an occasion for conversion: never again!” he said. The Pope, she said, has failed to make it clear that the entire religious organization, not just a few bad people, was responsible for residential school abuses. And he has not commented on the doctrine that was used to justify colonizing lands that were considered to be uninhabited but were in fact home to Indigenous Peoples.
Chief Real McKenzie of the Matimekush-Lac John Innu Nation said he was hopeful the Pope’s visit and his message would provide healing for some, but he acknowledged it has divided communities. “Some are going to accept it,” McKenzie said, but others are going to die without hearing what they consider a satisfactory response.
“What will happen after the apology?” she said. “Is there going to be programs and places we can go for assistance and help to carry on?”
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Pope Francis denounces 'evil' of sexual abuse for first time on Canada soilFor the first time since the start of a Canadian tour highlighted by apologies for the church's role in Indigenous residential schools, Pope Francis on Thursday acknowledged the sexual abuse inflicted on “minors and vulnerable people.”
Read more »
Pope Francis receiving a headdress elicits heated emotions amongst First Nations communities | Globalnews.caPope Francis was gifted a headdress after he apologized for the Catholic Church's role in residential schools. It's a gesture steeped in symbolism, but not everyone agrees with it.
Read more »
Pope Francis denounces ‘evil’ of sexual abuse during service in Quebec City | Globalnews.caPope Francis acknowledged the sexual abuse inflicted on 'minors and vulnerable people'' for the first time since arriving in Canada. The comments were made in Quebec City.
Read more »
Pope Francis tells faithful at outdoor mass to honour their elders | CBC NewsAt an open-air mass in Edmonton Tuesday for tens of thousands of congregants, Pope Francis highlighted the importance of parents and grandparents and challenged listeners to honour them by making choices to build a better future.
Read more »
Pope Francis holds open-air mass at Commonwealth StadiumTuesday\u0027s mass marked a major event in the pope\u0027s visit to Edmonton, and Treaty 6 territory, following a Monday appearance at Maskwacis.
Read more »
Pope Francis calls on faithful to be ‘weavers of hope’ at stadium mass in EdmontonDay after pontiff delivers sombre apology for mistreatment of children at residential schools, the mood turns celebratory for mass in front of nearly 50,000
Read more »