Reparations to Indigenous Peoples are critical after Pope’s apology
Reparations to Indigenous Peoples are critical after Pope’s apology
By Catherine Richardson
Director, First Peoples Studies Program, Associate Professor, School of Community and Public Affairs, Concordia University
Many people are contemplating Pope Francis’s recent apology for residential schools in Canada during his visit to Alberta, as well as his statements from Québec City and Iqaluit. In the aftermath of historical atrocities, apologies can offer a sense of justice and acknowledgement for people who were the targets of institutional violence.
People are looking for two things:
- Authenticity — Are the Pope’s statements a genuine reflection of the church’s “penance” and commitments to change?
- Responsibility — Do the Pope’s statements demonstrate willingness and resolve for the church to address systemic causes and effects of specific harms?
Many are waiting to see if the Roman Catholic Church will take institutional responsibility for genocide, sexualized abuse, torture and the deaths of thousands of Indigenous children.
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