Readers Speak Out: April 17, 2022
Backlash whiplash
The meeting of Indigenous representatives with Pope Francis makes me reflect on the relationship of Church and State in Canada, their partnerships in the residential schools and in State funding of Catholic education. The media has made clear the responsibility of the Church regarding residential schools, but not so much that of the State. The Church is left holding the bag for many unfortunate things that transpired because of her role as the teacher of morality and spirituality.
Readers Speak Out: April 10, 2022
Listening hearts
I have never been more proud of the Catholic Church than when I heard Pope Francis’ response last week to our Indigenous community in Canada. It was not so much what he said, but an acknowledgement that he had listened.
Pope Francis: ‘I ask for God’s forgiveness’
Read the full text of Pope Francis' April 1 final audience with the Canadian Indigenous delegation that travelled to the Vatican.
Friars’ contest winner inspired on home front
Liya Lijoe Thottungal did not have to look far for her inspiration in penning the winning the entry for the annual Friars’ Student Writing Contest.
Readers Speak Out: April 3, 2022
Antidote to war
Re: War and the Cross (Editorial, March 13):
In the anti-war film Oh! What a Lovely War patriotic hymns are sung, and a pastor tells his congregation theirs is a righteous cause against a dastardly enemy. The scene then cuts to the other side and their pastor. It brilliantly clarifies the nature of war: a mass psychosis.
Rome Coverage: Canadian Indigenous meet with Pope Francis
Rome Coverage: Canadian indigenous meet with Pope Francis
The long-awaited meeting between Pope Francis and representatives of Canada’s Indigenous communities in Rome promises to be a history-making occasion — and The Catholic Register is there to provide readers comprehensive coverage.
The Register’s associate editor, Michael Swan, is on the scene in Rome during the meetings which begin with individual Indigenous delegations March 28 and end with a final papal audience for all participants April 1.
Check this page for daily updates.
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Metis praise Pope Francis for listening
The Red River Metis went to Rome looking for the restoration of their communities, their culture and their churches.
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Apology begins path to reconciliation
Never was a single sentence more longed for. In 40 years since survivors began to speak out, 16 years since the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement and seven years since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada delivered its final report, nations and peoples have waited for a Pope to speak.
Miller awaits Pope’s ‘pilgrimage of closeness’
Vancouver Archbishop Michael Miller says Pope Francis has set in motion a “pilgrimage of closeness” between the Catholic Church and Canada’s First Nation, Metis and Inuit peoples with his historic apology.
Pope Francis: ‘I ask for God’s forgiveness’
Read the full text of Pope Francis' April 1 final audience with the Canadian Indigenous delegation that travelled to the Vatican.
Pope Francis apologizes for Church role in residential schools, plans for visit to Canada
The words I’m sorry from the Pope were more than what either Canadian bishops or Indigenous delegations expected from this week-long encounter with Pope Francis.
Indigenous demand Pope Francis revoke Doctrine of Discovery
First Nations delegates who met with Pope Francis today are still awaiting word on whether the Pope will renounce the Doctrine of Discovery.
Indigenous want truth about past, partnership for future
VATICAN CITY -- Ted Quewezance came to the Vatican looking for closure.
Indigenous bring synodality to Rome
Metis elder and educator Gary Gagnon knows that what’s going on in Rome this week is not some esoteric side issue for the Catholic Church. It’s at the heart of the most important issue in the Church under Pope Francis.
Vatican’s Indigenous collection opened to Canadian delegation
As members of all three Indigenous delegations in Rome to meet with Pope Francis toured the Anima Mundi collection at the Vatican Museums, there were mixed feelings. Some were in awe, while some wanted to know how these examples of Indigenous culture ended up half a world away from where they were made.
Indigenous delegation makes headlines worldwide
The unprecedented meetings this week between Pope Francis and three Canadian delegations of Indigenous people in Rome are big news. Thirteen camera crews and dozens of journalists — Italian, American, British and Canadian — greeted Metis National Council president Cassidy Caron after the MNC delegation of nine came out to St. Peter’s Square after their hour-long encounter with the bishop of Rome.
'Today is the beginning of something'
Hard truths and deep prayer marked the Metis delegation’s hour with Pope Francis, said bishops who were in the room when nine Metis elders and residential school survivors spoke with the Pope.
Inuit seek Pope’s help in bringing alleged abusive priest to justice
After being greeted individually at the door of the papal library by Pope Francis, Inuit delegates proceeded to light the qulliq they had brought with them — a soapstone lantern that burns blubber, and a symbol of warmth and life in Inuit culture.
Pope Francis listened, Metis hope Canadians do
Led by two fiddlers playing the Red River Jig to the amazement of tourists, Metis delegates skirted past St. Peter’s Square on their way out from an hour-long meeting with Pope Francis before meeting the assembled press from Rome and Canada.
Why Rome matters
Rome is not just another city. It’s not even an Italian city. It belongs to the world and to God at one and the same time.
Indigenous hope to ‘create path forward’ with Pope Francis
A week of spiritual diplomacy between Pope Francis and three Canadian Indigenous delegations will begin with hope, Assembly of First Nations Northwest Territories Regional Chief Gerald Antoine told an international press corps gathering on Zoom March 24.
Doctrine of Discovery stands in reconciliation’s path
1493 papal bull casts long shadow over Church-Indigenous relations
Oblates to open more residential school records
As three separate Indigenous delegations head to Rome for meetings with Pope Francis on March 28, March 31 and April 1, Canada’s Oblate Fathers have announced a deal with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation to make more residential school records available, including material that may be archived in Rome and Paris.
Reconciliation begins with listening
Without grassroots Catholics, Indigenous-Church relations won’t move forward
Background
Church to blame for residential schools: poll
While the work toward a formal apology from Pope Francis…Restoring languages will help right past wrongs
When news of the 215 unmarked graves at the former…Guadalupe devotion rising for Indigenous
The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is not some…Apology ‘most pressing issue’: Fontaine
When Chief Phil Fontaine arrives in Rome to meet with…Building a future from the past
Whether or not reconciliation with Indigenous people lies in the…2021: A Church in crisis confronts its sins
This entire year turned on three unexpected words — “ground-penetrating…Reconciliation council positive step forward
Canadian bishops and religious orders are cheering a new, Indigenous-led…A challenge to save Indigenous language
A Catholic organization committed to improving relations between the Church…Toronto protest sends message of solidarity
Thousands of people who marched through downtown Toronto to Nathan…Indigenous fund helps push healing forward
A new, independent registered charity created to disburse $30 million…Indigenous expect positive visit from Pope Francis but apology must be the reason
Deacon Harry Lafond is well aware of the serious, sorrowful…On Friday, March 25, the Archdiocese of Toronto will answer the call of Pope Francis for dioceses around the world to pray for peace.
Readers Speak Out: March 27, 2022
Real common good
Douglas Naus writes in a March 3 letter to the editor that, “The common good should always be weighed with the individual good, with the individual good taking precedence according to the teachings of the Catholic Church. […]”
Readers Speak Out: March 20, 2022
Dyed in green wool
I am a proud, dyed-in-the-wool Patrician — school, college, church, parish and then Canada — so St. Patrick’s feast day is personal. It falls right in the middle of Lent so may reflect his charism of joy rising out of resilience.
St. Patrick returns to Montreal streets
Montreal’s Irish community will be on its feet again next week with resumption of its St. Patrick’s Day parade — two years after the Great Green blowout was unceremoniously cancelled by COVID-19.