Over the last five years retired Ontario Superior Court Justice George Valin has asked three different Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops’ presidents why the bishops can’t simply, unanimously and open-heartedly invite Pope Francis to apologize on Canadian soil for the long, sad history of Catholic-run residential schools. He has yet to receive an answer.
Renewed effort for reconciliation funds
By Michael Swan, The Catholic RegisterA renewed effort is underway to make up for the failed Catholic “best efforts” campaign to raise $25 million for healing and reconciliation projects across Canada.
$60 million settles sexual abuse suit
By Catholic Register StaffQuebec’s Brothers of the Sacred Heart agreed to pay $60 million to settle two class-action lawsuits on clerical sexual abuse.
Mass restrictions loosen further as of July 16 in Ontario
By Catholic Register StaffWith Ontario moving into Step 3 of its reopening plan as of 12:01 a.m. July 16, there will no longer be capacity limits for places of worship. That won’t mean, however, that churches will be wide open for Mass.
Lay Catholic group launches appeal to aid reconciliation effort
By Michael Swan, The Catholic RegisterA national lay effort to raise funds and awareness for reconciliation is rising up out of the grassroots of the Catholic Church in Canada.
Saskatchewan bishops launch ‘Catholic TRC Healing Response’ fundraising appeal
By Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Canadian Catholic NewsThe Catholic bishops of Saskatchewan have begun accepting donations to its province-wide fund-raising appeal among Catholics for support of residential school survivors and their communities.
New Governor-General a positive step on the path to reconciliation
By Brian Dryden, Canadian Catholic NewsOTTAWA -- The appointment of Mary Simon as Canada’s first Indigenous Governor-General is being hailed as a meaningful step towards reconciliation.
‘Intolerable’ violence no answer for anger
By Quinton Amundson, The Catholic RegisterWith 20 churches across Canada — mostly Catholic — torched by mid-July in the fallout of the discovery of unmarked graves at former residential schools, the silence from political leaders has been deafening, says Deacon Andrew Bennett.
Church fires, vandalism condemned
By Quinton Amundson, The Catholic RegisterThe Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL) has condemned the rash of church fires and vandalism that has taken place across Canada, particularly in the west, since the discovery of graves at former residential schools.
Saskatchewan bishops plan fundraising for residential school survivors
By Catholic Register StaffThe Catholic bishops of Saskatchewan have begun the process for a new fundraising campaign to support survivors of residential schools.
Park honours caregivers from past pandemic
By Wendy-Ann Clarke, The Catholic RegisterA virtual ceremony will be held July 16 to open Grasett Park in downtown Toronto to commemorate the physicians, nurses, clergy and other caregivers who paid the ultimate sacrifice in caring for the influx of Irish migrants struck down by typhus in 1847.