Canada: Church announces financial aid to boarding school victims

The Catholic Church in Canada plans to raise about 20 million euros (or 30 million Canadian dollars) over the next five years to support aid projects for Indigenous victims of abuse at boarding schools in the country. This was announced by the Bishops’ Conference of Canada (CCCB) in Ottawa on Monday (local time).

In all regions of the country, “healing and reconciliation initiatives” for boarding school survivors, their families and their communities are funded to contribute to combating the “historic and persistent trauma” caused by the so-called “residential” system should go. School” is the reason, said Episcopal Conference President Raymond Poisson.

“There isn’t a single step that can take away the pain of boarding school survivors, but by listening, seeking relationships, and working together wherever we can, we hope to learn that we hope together.” How can we walk a new path?

CCCB Vice President William McGrawton emphasized which projects are specifically funded in each area at the site, in consultation with First Nations, Metis and Inuit. Individual initiatives are to be announced in November. Bishop said, “There is not a single step that can relieve the pain of boarding school survivors, but by listening, seeking relationships and working together wherever we can, we hope to learn that How can we walk a new path of hope together,” Bishop said. of Calgary.

official apology

“We recognize the serious abuse perpetrated by certain members of our Catholic community: physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual, cultural and sexual.”

Last week, Catholic bishops in Canada officially apologized to Indigenous people for the suffering caused by the church’s involvement in the former boarding system for Indigenous children. “”, it said in a statement published on Friday. It was the most comprehensive statement ever made by the Catholic Church on the subject that had been simmering for months.

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Since late May, more than 1,000 anonymous graves have been discovered by ground penetrating radar near former Catholic boarding schools on former boarding school properties in Canada. In the 19th and 20th centuries, it is estimated that more than 100,000 children of Indigenous mothers were placed – often forcibly – in Canadian homes. Many of the more than 130 institutions across the country were run by Catholic religious orders. They should introduce the children to “Christian Civilization” on behalf of the state. Often they were not allowed to speak their mother tongue. An unknown number of children and adolescents were physically or sexually abused, and many died of infectious diseases.

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