[Sundaycommunity] A recent letter of TO Archbishop

[sylvia skrepichuk]

Thanks Roberto
I had read some of this.  This does help.
Peace Sylvia



Sent from my Galaxy



-------- Original message --------
From: "Roberto J. via Sundaycommunity" <sundaycommunity at lists.integralshift.ca>
Date: 2021-06-06 12:51 p.m. (GMT-05:00)
To: Mary Brown via Sundaycommunity <sundaycommunity at lists.integralshift.ca>
Cc: "Roberto J." <urosma at gmail.com>
Subject: [Sundaycommunity] A recent letter of TO Archbishop

I found this letter interesting even though I have not much real
information of the details mentioned. It was send to all Holy Rosary
parishioners that have their email registered at the parish.


June 3, 2021


“If one member suffers, all suffer together with it.” (1 Cor 12:26)

In recent days, the country has been shocked, saddened and angered by
the discovery of the remains of 215 children in unmarked graves who
attended a residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia. We pray
for the children who died in Kamloops and in residential schools
throughout the country – they must not be forgotten. We must also
recognize the betrayal of trust by many Catholic leaders who were
responsible for operating residential schools, abandoning their
obligation to care for young and innocent children.

We all seek the truth and this tragic discovery provides yet another
opportunity for us to learn more about this dark chapter in our
history and the painful journey experienced by so many of our
Indigenous brothers and sisters.

There is much more work to be done. Since the 1990’s, many of the
Catholic entities responsible for the operation of residential schools
have apologized publicly for their actions and have journeyed together
with victims on the path to truth and reconciliation. This includes
the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, the religious order that operated the
residential school in Kamloops, which over the weekend again
apologized for its role in the residential school system. Pope
Benedict XVI also had the chance to meet with Indigenous leaders in
2009 to personally express his sorrow and anguish.

These actions do not erase our history; they acknowledge our past,
force us to face the consequences of our behaviour and compel us to
ensure that our sins are not repeated.

While the Archdiocese of Toronto did not operate residential schools,
we join with the Indigenous peoples, the Catholic community and
Canadians from coast to coast to coast in a period of collective grief
for those who are physically, emotionally and spiritually wounded.
This Sunday, I will offer Mass for those who died or were abused at
residential schools and for all those who deal with the
intergenerational trauma caused by this system. We must also continue
to build on the tangible initiatives present throughout the country,
like the Our Lady of Guadalupe Circle, where bishops and priests,
women religious, laity and Indigenous peoples are committed to walking
together on a path to reconciliation.

As I have stated previously when speaking of abuse in the Church, the
real scandal is when evil festers in the darkness. Once in the open,
evil can be rooted out. That must happen. Then new life can begin. Let
us journey together to find light through the darkness once again.

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, pray for us.

Thomas Collins
Archbishop of Toronto

Apology from the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
Additional resources from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
Frequently Asked Questions re Catholic Organizations and Residential Schools

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Residential Schools – June 2021

There has been considerable media coverage and discussion in recent
days following the discovery of children’s remains at the former
residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia. The discovery has
reopened a painful wound for many in our country and has identified
the need for all Canadians to learn more about our history, the role
of residential schools as part of that journey and to seek the truth
regarding all those who suffered and continue to do so to this day.

The abuse of Indigenous peoples is a dark chapter in the history of
Canada and the Catholic Church. While the Church has cared for and
served Indigenous people in many ways, it is undeniable that some
members of the Church undermined the dignity of First Nations people.
There is evidence that much of this abuse occurred at residential
schools, which were largely operated by Christian denominations.

This communication is intended to provide some context and address
some frequently asked questions about this important issue. We must
all join in the collective efforts on the path to healing and
reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.


1. I am deeply troubled by the discovery of children’s remains in
Kamloops on the site of a former residential school. Who operated the
school?

The discovery of 215 unmarked graves in late May 2021 will require
further investigation to help seek the truth of who these children
were, how they died and how they were buried so far from home. The
school was built and initially operated by the federal government,
opening in 1890. In 1892, the federal government asked a Catholic
order, the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, to take over
operations, which they did until 1969. The federal government resumed
operations of the school from 1969 until its closure in 1979.

The religious order issued a formal apology in 1991 in addition to
paying settlements to residential school survivors. An excerpt of the
apology reads as follows:

“We wish to apologize in a very particular way for the instances of
physical and sexual abuse that occurred in those schools…Far from
attempting to defend or rationalize these cases of abuse in any way,
we wish to state publicly that we acknowledge they were inexcusable,
intolerable and a betrayal of trust in one of its most serious forms.
We deeply and very specifically, apologize to every victim of such
abuse and we seek help in searching for means to bring about healing.”

2. Is the Catholic Church assisting with the efforts to seek the truth
in Kamloops and elsewhere?

Father Ken Thorson, current Superior of the Missionary Oblates of Mary
Immaculate, has reached out to the Tk'emlups te Secwépemc Chief
Rosanne Casimir to offer assistance and to express sympathies
following the discovery of the remains of 215 children on the grounds
of the former school. Father Thorson has communicated that records
from the Kamloops Indian Residential School are with the Royal British
Columbia Museum and has indicated the order will assist in sharing any
information regarding records at this and other locations where the
order operated schools.

Among the groups of dioceses and religious communities that operated
residential schools, there is a spirit of cooperation with Indigenous
peoples with regards to personal records and information relating to
the former schools. At the same time, there are also privacy rights,
including those of Indigenous peoples who attended these schools,
which need to be taken into consideration on a case by case basis.

3. Why aren’t we hearing an apology from the Catholic Church in Canada?

There is no such entity as the Catholic Church of Canada. Each
Catholic diocese and religious order is an independent legal entity.
Despite this reality, in 1991, Canadian Catholic Bishops, along with
leaders of men and women religious communities, issued a statement
that “We are sorry and deeply regret the pain, suffering and
alienation that so many experienced” at residential schools.

Approximately 16 out of 70 Roman Catholic dioceses in Canada were
associated with the former residential schools, in addition to about
three dozen out of over one hundred Catholic institutes (commonly
referred to as religious orders). Each diocese and institute is
corporately and legally responsible for its own actions.

Many of the dioceses or orders operating schools have offered
apologies, dating back to the early 1990s. In recent days, many
bishops throughout Canada have offered statements and introduced other
initiatives to continue our ongoing path to truth and reconciliation.

A listing of some of the numerous apologies and other resources can be found at:

https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FCCCBreconciliationDocuments&data=04%7C01%7C%7C21905254edb242f4e54308d9290b5953%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637585950979789187%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=KeSjpSNrleB4oi7WfSAMFMozbN6K37eNAGBzvX88Rv4%3D&reserved=0

4. Did the Archdiocese of Toronto operate residential schools?

The Archdiocese of Toronto did not operate residential schools yet we
share the collective grief and sorrow as the result of any
representative of the Catholic Church inflicting pain or abuse on an
individual, especially vulnerable children.

5. Have Indigenous leaders met with the Pope?

Yes, in 2009, the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations,
Phil Fontaine, along with other Indigenous representatives, had a
moving encounter with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican. In describing
the meeting, Chief Fontaine told the media he hoped the expression of
regret would “close the book” on the issue of apologies for
residential school survivors.

Another attendee at the meeting with Pope Benedict, Edward John, Grand
Chief of the First Nations Summit in British Columbia, said the Pope
acknowledged the suffering of those who are still living with the
effects of their experiences at the schools. In comments to the media
he said, “I think in that sense, there was that apology that we were
certainly looking for.”

The Catholic Church continues to work alongside and with Indigenous
communities in order to foster an ongoing culture of reconciliation.
There have been, and continue to be, numerous initiatives by Catholic
dioceses, institutes and organizations throughout Canada to assist
with support the ongoing healing and reconciliation journey.

6. I understand there was a formal request in the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission report for the Pope to personally apologize
in Canada?

The Holy Father has already been invited to Canada by the present and
previous Prime Minister. The Catholic Bishops of Canada, including the
current and past Presidents of the Canadian Conference of Catholic
Bishops, have assured the Pope they would joyfully and gratefully
welcome him in a visit to Canada. Likewise, in a number of instances,
Canadian Bishops, individually and collectively, have formally invited
Pope Francis to visit, including with specific reference to Call to
Action #58 (a recommendation of the 2015 Truth & Reconciliation
Commission asking the Holy Father to apologize on Canadian soil within
one year of the report being issued).

Pope Francis has encouraged the Bishops to continue taking leadership
and assuming their proper role in pursuing their pastoral engagement
and reconciliation efforts with Indigenous peoples, including ongoing
conversations among the Bishops and Elders. This work builds on past
apologies, dialogue and the desire to move forward together.

A formal papal visit involves a number of steps from both government
and church leadership as well as significant logistical, financial
commitments and other considerations. No papal visit has been publicly
announced at this time.

7. Will the Catholic Church pay financial reparations to those harmed
by residential schools?

The Catholic entities that operated residential schools were part of
the 2006 Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement (IRSSA).

The Holy See and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops were
never involved in running the former schools. The “Roman Catholic
Entities” named as parties in the IRSSA were legally deemed to have
fulfilled the requirements of the settlement agreement by a judicial
review. Following this review, the former Conservative government
released the entities from further obligations – a decision which the
present Liberal government did not appeal.

The 50 or so individual entities which signed the IRSSA paid:

   i.            $29 million in cash (less legal costs);

   ii.           more than the required $25 million of “in-kind”
contributions; and

   iii.          an additional $3.7 million from a “best efforts” campaign.

Those same entities, together with other dioceses, institutes and
national Catholic organizations, continue to be involved in efforts
across the country to provide in-kind contributions, which go well
beyond the scope of the Indian Residential School Settlement
Agreement.

8. Where can I find additional resources?

Our Lady of Guadalupe Circle is a Catholic coalition of Indigenous
people, bishops, lay movements, clergy and institutes of consecrated
life, engaged in renewing and fostering relationships between the
Catholic Church and Indigenous Peoples in Canada. For more information
visit: https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourladyofguadalupecircle.ca%2F&data=04%7C01%7C%7C21905254edb242f4e54308d9290b5953%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637585950979789187%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=E0MXIWSVqA7NasuEzBMcnsZ5%2BojGehWmG89NJYIe5NM%3D&reserved=0.




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