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It’s been a year since Pope Francis officially apologized for the Roman Catholic Church’s role in the abuses and forced assimilation of Indigenous people at Canadian residential schools. At the time, officials said it was an important step toward healing and reconciliation. But others said it was more important for the Church to take action in addition to rhetoric. We’ll get different perspectives about the weight of the papal apology one year later.
GUESTS
Chief Wilton Littlechild (Cree), International Chief for Treaty Six and the former commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
Piita Irniq (Inuk), elder, residential school survivor, and Inuit cultural teacher
Andrew Carrier (Métis), Red River Métis Government Minister for Residential & Day Schools
Dr. Apooyak’ii, Tiffany Prete (Kainai [Blood Tribe]), assistant professor of sociology at the University of Lethbridge
Break 1 Music: Healing Song (song) Red Hawk Medicine Drum (artist) New Beginnings (album)
Break 2 Music: Mahk Jchi (song) Ulali (artist) Heartbeat: Voices of First Nations Women (album)
The Empire uses religion to loot, steal and kill. They are sorcerers. You fell for it. No apology will ever do anything.
Chief Little John helped him with his apology. Couldn’t the Pope have in his own words expressed his sorrowfulness through a translator who could have spoken the apology for him?
Which of these meanings was the Pope expressing?
Definitions found in the dictionary.
re·pu·di·at e:
refuse to accept or be associated with:
• deny the truth or validity of:
• refuse to fulfill or discharge (an agreement, obligation, or debt):
The Pope did not offer an action of atonement.
a·tone·ment | əˈtōnm(ə)nt |
reparation for a wrong or injury: make atonement for
• (in religious contexts) reparation or expiation for sin:
for·give
stop feeling angry or resentful toward (someone) for an offense, flaw, or mistake:
• (usually be forgiven) Stop feeling angry or resentful toward someone for (an offense, flaw, or mistake):
• cancel (a debt):
With or without an apology the act of forgiving places the burden on the abused. It places no responsibility on the abuser.
Reconciliation requires not only an acknowledgment of wrongdoing but also an action of re-payment for the wrongdoing. At least offer an atonement.
To forgive is the only way to live a healthy life. However, the abused person who forgives without action takes on the responsibility of reconciliation.