Canada: Catholic Church apologizes for death and abuse of tribal children in boarding schools

The Catholic bishops of Canada formally apologized to the natives Of the country after recent months More than 1,000 graves will be found Near the former boarding schools run by the church, According to a report released Friday.

“We, the Catholic Bishops of Canada, express our deepest condolences and openly apologize,” they said.

Too much They acknowledged the “suffering of the intercessors” and the “severe abuse of some members” of the Catholic community.

“Many religious communities and Catholic dioceses have served in this organization This has led to the suppression of indigenous languages, culture and spirituality, without respect for the rich history, traditions and wisdom of the tribal people. “they said.

Even the statement “Recognizes the historical and current shock and tradition of suffering And the challenges that continue to this day for the tribal people.

This summer More than 1,000 unmarked graves were found near former Catholic boarding schools for tribal children. Many aboriginal groups have repeatedly asked the pope to apologize.

Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, who made reconciliation with the indigenous people one of his priorities, regretted that Francis and the Catholic Church refused to accept their “responsibility” and “part of the crime.”“In the administration of boarding schools.

According to Trudeau, these findings “They reaffirm a fact they have known for a long time.” And “deepen the pain felt by families and indigenous peoples”, a “shock” called “Canada’s responsibility”, for which the government will continue to provide the necessary evidence to “expose these horrific evils.”

The apology was issued after the annual full meeting of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. In the text In December it was announced that Pope Francis would receive representatives of the tribal people.

The apology comes a week before the first National Truth and Reconciliation Day for missing children and survivors scheduled for September 30.

Grave finds It re-ignited the shock experienced by about 150,000 Amerindian, mestizo and Inuit children They were separated from their families, their language and culture and forcibly employed in 139 boarding schools across the country until the 1990s.

Many of them Were abused or sexually abused and more than 4,000 died, According to the Commission of Inquiry, Canada a “Cultural Genocide”.

Some of the victims who spoke to the agency Reuters They recalled Persecutes permanent hunger and loneliness. Meanwhile, schools were conducted under Threat And frequent use Strength.

In 2008 the federal government of Canada apologized for the organization. The Catholic Church, which ran most of the schools, He has not yet apologized.

(With AFP, EP and Reuters information)

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