Trudeau Asks Pope to Apologize

[Perknose]

. . . For the role of the Catholic Church in a Canadian school system where indigenous children were abused for decades.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which has been tasked with collecting the stories of survivors and recommending a way forward for the country to heal, has called the residential school system "cultural genocide".

• Survivors of 'cultural genocide' still healing
• Canada promises 'full reconciliation'

In its report, the commission recommended the Catholic Church issue a formal apology for its part in the residential school system.

Similar apologies have been issued by Anglican, Presbyterian and United Churches, who along with the Catholic Church helped run these schools as joint ventures with the Canadian government.

The report found a school system for indigenous children separated families and tried to weaken their culture.

Over 3,000 children died while at the schools over the last century.

Six years in the making, the nearly 4,000-page report found they died at a higher rate than the general population and many were buried in unmarked graves.

Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologised to survivors in 2008, but some critics saw the apology as hollow.

Let's see if the Pope follows through. I really like this Pope, personally, but my take is that, politically and institutionally, he has to protect his flank against an entrenched cabal of bigoted old biddies in Cardinal red robes.

The most "conservative" amongst them have had the long knives out for Pope Francis. But, imho, integrity demands that this one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church formally accept institutional responsibility for this past excrescence.

 

[Victorian Gray]

In case anyone is interested - the web page of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission:

http://www.trc.ca/websites/trcinstitution/index.php?p=905

 

[kage69]

That's horrifying. The level of suffering and fear that those children must have gone through before dying makes my heart cry.

I'm not sure what an apology is going to do to rectify it and bring people to justice, but it's something. I continue to hope that this organization rife with sexual predators has it's deeds exposed to the light and is prosecuted to the full extent of the law. With luck we'll see actual sentences someday, instead of it all being just a minor inconvenience in that the now relocated priest has to go shop for a new mansion while he remotely sells his old one.

 

[Victorian Gray]

It's 2 hours long (the story is animated and takes up the 1st hour then there is a discussion) and worth every second;

The Secret Path

"Mike Downie introduced me to Chanie Wenjack; he gave me the story from Ian Adam’s Maclean’s magazine story dating back to February 6, 1967, “The Lonely Death of Charlie Wenjack.”

Chanie was a young boy who died on October 22, 1966, walking the railroad tracks, trying to escape from the Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School to walk home. Chanie’s home was 400 miles away. He didn’t know that. He didn’t know where it was, nor know how to find it, but, like so many kids - more than anyone will be able to imagine - he tried. I never knew Chanie, the child his teachers misnamed Charlie, but I will always love him."

http://secretpath.ca/

 

[Blue_Max]

Way to go, Trudeau. This has been acknowledged and addressed MANY times already.

This is just another "progressive" move to demonize the hated Christianity (yet again) by pulling those skeletons out of the closet over and over again, even after apologies have been made.

 

[Victorian Gray]

Way to go, Trudeau. This has been acknowledged and addressed MANY times already.

This is just another "progressive" move to demonize the hated Christianity (yet again) by pulling those skeletons out of the closet over and over again, even after apologies have been made.

Damn, use some air freshener when you stink up the place like this. Maybe change your diet.

And don't forget to wipe.

 

[MomentsofSanity]

Way to go, Trudeau. This has been acknowledged and addressed MANY times already.

This is just another "progressive" move to demonize the hated Christianity (yet again) by pulling those skeletons out of the closet over and over again, even after apologies have been made.

Yes. That's why the native groups so aggregiously exploited by the members of the church want an apology from the church. Because they've already apologized.

It's a good thing exploited groups have people like you around to tell them what they should and should not care about.

 

[Blue_Max]

Yes. That's why the native groups so aggregiously exploited by the members of the church want an apology from the church. Because they've already apologized.

It's a good thing exploited groups have people like you around to tell them what they should and should not care about.

How many times must a big, showy apology be made? How many reparations?

How many, until the recipient finally accepts the apology - and if no apology or reparations will ever suffice, it makes the ones ever-demanding apologies to look bad.

I wonder if Trudeau even consulted a native Canadian on the subject - communicating with those outside his social circle isn't exactly his forte. The link said the only spokespeople are the newly-formed Truth and Reconciliation Commission: http://www.trc.ca/websites/trcinstitution/index.php?p=905 (crappy site, too!) No actual native spokespeople. SJW's just flogging that white guilt.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Way to go, Trudeau. This has been acknowledged and addressed MANY times already.

This is just another "progressive" move to demonize the hated Christianity (yet again) by pulling those skeletons out of the closet over and over again, even after apologies have been made.

No need to demonize Christianity, they've done a damn fine job of letting everyone know exactly why anyone with a brain hates them.

Apologies have been made? Well then, I'm sure that covers it. All those people that lost love ones can take comfort from an apology. Maybe the Catholic Church can open up their vaults and shake loose some of those billions of dollars (many of which it earned by murdering people and taking their stuff) and pay some reparations for the atrocities they commit.

Hey, what about god? These are supposedly his people doing his work (at least they claim they are) maybe he should apologize too. Why is it that he doesn't seem to give a shit when people do this crap in his name?

 

[MomentsofSanity]

How many times must a big, showy apology be made? How many reparations?

How many, until the recipient finally accepts the apology - and if no apology or reparations will ever suffice, it makes the ones ever-demanding apologies to look bad.

I wonder if Trudeau even consulted a native Canadian on the subject - communicating with those outside his social circle isn't exactly his forte. The link said the only spokespeople are the newly-formed Truth and Reconciliation Commission: http://www.trc.ca/websites/trcinstitution/index.php?p=905 (crappy site, too!) No actual native spokespeople. SJW's just flogging that white guilt.

Please do show us where the Catholic Church apologized for the mistreatment and deaths of thousands of indigenous people. And there are ample members of the native community who feel a formal apology from the church is not only appropriate but deserved.

Perry Bellegarde seems to feel that a formal apology and audience with the Holy See would go a long way. But what would he know about what the native population of Canada wants right? Oh right. He's the national chief for the Assembly of First Nations. I guess he quite literally speaks for all of them.

http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/politics/aboriginal-residential-schools-trudeau-meeting-1.3367026

Perry Bellegarde, the national chief for the Assembly of First Nations, said an apology from the pontiff would help redress the legacy of residential schools and advance reconciliation between indigenous people and the Roman Catholic Church.

"We are going to continue our efforts to get an audience with the Pope," Bellegarde said, "because really, the Catholic Church is the only church that has not formally apologized to the survivors."

"Getting an audience with His Holiness is very important to bring about healing and reconciliation for their role in the imposition of the residential school system."

You seem to enjoy your ignorance on these types of subjects. There are still many survivors whose lives were destroyed by the residential schools. I doubt you've spent any time at all actually understanding their concerns and the impact to the entire native community and culture though.

 

[Grooveriding]

Did you know a first term incumbent majority government in Canada has not gone without winning a second term since 1930, and that party was the Conservatives? Also, the CPC just made the mistake of nominating a social conservative as leader. In a country where attacking gays, minorities, abortion etc. is a death knell for your chances at the polls. Something Harper knew and had the wisdom to instruct the party members not to do publicly while they were in power. In the next federal election Trudeau will be riding the wave of having just legalized marijuana across the country less than a year before. Solidifying and motivating the elusive youth vote.

Saddle up Blue, you've got at least 6 more years of your faux victim outrage.

 

[Victorian Gray]

How many times must a big, showy apology be made? How many reparations?

How many, until the recipient finally accepts the apology - and if no apology or reparations will ever suffice, it makes the ones ever-demanding apologies to look bad.

I wonder if Trudeau even consulted a native Canadian on the subject - communicating with those outside his social circle isn't exactly his forte. The link said the only spokespeople are the newly-formed Truth and Reconciliation Commission: http://www.trc.ca/websites/trcinstitution/index.php?p=905 (crappy site, too!) No actual native spokespeople. SJW's just flogging that white guilt.

Stop crapping your pants about something that it's obvious you know absolutely nothing about and which impacts you in no way whatsoever. Go live an actual life you dipstick.

 

[FelixDeCat]

Over the last 2,000 years, the Catholic Church has been a part of both good and bad things. They appear to be the last group who have not issued an apology so far. Being that Pope Francis has been trying to rectify as many mistakes as possible when he travels to different countries, and has apologized frequently in several of those countries along with continued commitments to prevent abuse or coverups, I would not be surprised to see an apology offered some time in the not too distant future for the abuse of these people.

Hopefully during a future visit to Canada he can experience first hand some of the places and meet with survivors and relatives. He is doing great for an 80 year old!

 

[sdifox]

I have great respect for Pope Francis and I think he will probably do it.

The last residential school closed in 1996, not exactly ancient history.

 

[Moonbeam]

How many times must a big, showy apology be made? How many reparations?

How many, until the recipient finally accepts the apology - and if no apology or reparations will ever suffice, it makes the ones ever-demanding apologies to look bad.

I wonder if Trudeau even consulted a native Canadian on the subject - communicating with those outside his social circle isn't exactly his forte. The link said the only spokespeople are the newly-formed Truth and Reconciliation Commission: http://www.trc.ca/websites/trcinstitution/index.php?p=905 (crappy site, too!) No actual native spokespeople. SJW's just flogging that white guilt.

My guess is that you are not aware that your focus on the horrors of feeling white guilt and contempt for those who suggest it are indications that you yourself are profoundly infected with it. In your case, the disease is so intense that you are forced to rail against all suggestions of it. Psychiatry can help you with that. Walking around with so much rage against yourself isn't healthy especially since some introspection and support could get you past it. You won't have to go through your life causing others to react to you like you have leprosy. You don't actually have to go through life unhinged. It's just a way to keep your armor sharp by constantly exposing yourself to floggings. You're not guilty and you're not bad. You're just sad. You have a lot of pain.

 

[xthetenth]

Way to go, Trudeau. This has been acknowledged and addressed MANY times already.

This is just another "progressive" move to demonize the hated Christianity (yet again) by pulling those skeletons out of the closet over and over again, even after apologies have been made.

How many times must a big, showy apology be made? How many reparations?

How many, until the recipient finally accepts the apology - and if no apology or reparations will ever suffice, it makes the ones ever-demanding apologies to look bad.

I wonder if Trudeau even consulted a native Canadian on the subject - communicating with those outside his social circle isn't exactly his forte. The link said the only spokespeople are the newly-formed Truth and Reconciliation Commission: http://www.trc.ca/websites/trcinstitution/index.php?p=905 (crappy site, too!) No actual native spokespeople. SJW's just flogging that white guilt.

Oh I think I might have it. Moonbeam's close, but I don't think quite on the mark:

My guess is that you are not aware that your focus on the horrors of feeling white guilt and contempt for those who suggest it are indications that you yourself are profoundly infected with it. In your case, the disease is so intense that you are forced to rail against all suggestions of it. Psychiatry can help you with that. Walking around with so much rage against yourself isn't healthy especially since some introspection and support could get you past it. You won't have to go through your life causing others to react to you like you have leprosy. You don't actually have to go through life unhinged. It's just a way to keep your armor sharp by constantly exposing yourself to floggings. You're not guilty and you're not bad. You're just sad. You have a lot of pain.

It's nothing new. It's pretty timeless. It's not about feeling the guilt, it's about exculpating yourself from guilt by rejecting the premise.

Hey Max, tell me if this strikes a bit close to home. I'm bolding it so you actually read it.
You believe that the injustices of the past are already fixed and that anybody marching under the banner of equality or redressing past wrongs are just bringing pain and strife to a world where the great injustices have been dealt with because if they were justified you couldn't square your self-image of yourself as a moral and intelligent man with your life. If those complaints were justified, you would be supporting a deeply unjust social order, one where talent and work are only part of the equation and any successes in your life would be partly down to things other than your personal merit.

It's hardly new or original by the way, here's an example of similar from the 1960s. People trying to bring basic civil rights, such as not getting lynched and not being an actual literal caste consigned to poverty and failed educations are claimed to be just bringing misery (where presumably there was none for the people who actually matter)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XxYwWg7F8I

I have great respect for Pope Francis and I think he will probably do it.

The last residential school closed in 1996, not exactly ancient history.

Blue's going to just glide off of things like this because they can't be true in the sense that they become a part of his worldview. He needs to reject that as something that's already been solved, never mind that the effects of a deliberately harmful education last through the life of the victims and the effects on their lives filter into their children's lives and so on down the line. True social mobility is achieved on the order of centuries, this sort of thing doesn't just quietly fade away, it takes a long time for the effects to stop lingering.

 

[zinfamous]

Over the last 2,000 years, the Catholic Church has been a part of both good and bad things. They appear to be the last group who have not issued an apology so far. Being that Pope Francis has been trying to rectify as many mistakes as possible when he travels to different countries, and has apologized frequently in several of those countries along with continued commitments to prevent abuse or coverups, I would not be surprised to see an apology offered some time in the not too distant future for the abuse of these people.

Hopefully during a future visit to Canada he can experience first hand some of the places and meet with survivors and relatives. He is doing great for an 80 year old!

I agree, FDC

 

[MajinCry]

Oh these jolly schools. Amnesty USA has an article about what went on. Long story short: rape, sex slavery, sterilization, molestation, torture, murder, and human experimentation.

http://www.amnestyusa.org/node/87342

The OP understates how long this went on for. This began in the mid 1800's.

 

[feralkid]

I'd like to apologize for Blue Max.

 

[xthetenth]

I'd like to apologize for Blue Max.

The only person who needs to apologize for him is him, and there is no apology for him other than confronting the fact that the story he's written about the world and his place in it is a damaging psychological crutch that justifies the harm he's done with the cause for harm he will do.

 

[Roflmouth]

When will Trudeau ask various Muslim leaders around the world to apologize for the carnage, misogyny, child rape, and other various atrocities that have been committed over the years?

 

[xthetenth]

When will Trudeau ask various Muslim leaders around the world to apologize for the carnage, misogyny, child rape, and other various atrocities that have been committed over the years?

You don't even aspire to the pretense of wanting to be better, do you? It's all about justifying your depravity.

 

[interchange]

Canadians love a good apology. A sincere and appropriate apology can go a long way, though. Not sure trying to compel an apology could ever be seen as sincere, but I'm not even sure this goes that far. But I'm not sure of the reception even in the best of cases.

 

[Victorian Gray]

When will Trudeau ask various Muslim leaders around the world to apologize for the carnage, misogyny, child rape, and other various atrocities that have been committed over the years?

FUCK.YOU.

 

[Victorian Gray]

Canadians love a good apology. A sincere and appropriate apology can go a long way, though. Not sure trying to compel an apology could ever be seen as sincere, but I'm not even sure this goes that far. But I'm not sure of the reception even in the best of cases.

Do you have even the faintest understanding of this issue?

http://www.trc.ca/websites/trcinstitution/index.php?p=905