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Catholicism and the Canadian government find a new way to victimize victims of abuse in Residential schools
Canada agreed to 'forever discharge' Catholic entities from raising $25M for residential school survivors
Info is in final release document of 2015 agreement
Stephanie Taylor ·
The Canadian Press ·
Posted: Aug 20, 2022 1:46 PM ET |
Pope Francis meets with residential school survivors in Iqaluit, Nunavut, during his recent visit to Canada. In 2015, Canada signed a deal with Catholic entities that 'forever discharged' them from a promise to try to raise $25 million for survivors. (Vincenzo Pinto/AFP/Getty Images)
Canada agreed to "forever discharge" Catholic entities from their promise to raise $25 million for residential school survivors and also picked up their legal bill, a final release document shows.
The Canadian Press obtained a signed copy of the 2015 agreement through federal access-to-information laws, marking what appears to be the first time the document has been widely publicized.
"That's a very, very important set of records," said Ry Moran, an associate librarian at the University of Victoria and founding director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.
"Like all questions around accountability, the question is, 'Who made the decision? How was that decision made? Who ultimately signed off on this?'"
Indigenous leaders and legal experts have long questioned why Ottawa opted to give up an appeal of a court decision that meant Catholic entities didn't have to pay their remaining financial obligations under the historic Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement.
The actions of the Catholic groups involved — and by extension, the Catholic Church as an institution — as well as Ottawa have been under renewed scrutiny since the uncovering of what are believed to be hundreds of unmarked graves at former residential school sites, which First Nations began announcing last year.
2015 decision dropped appeal
The dispute in question arose years before and culminated in a court decision handed down by a Saskatchewan judge in July 2015.
The residential schools settlement obligated the 48 Catholic entities involved to pay $79 million, which was broken into three parts, including making "best efforts" to raise $25 million for residential school survivors.
There was a disagreement between Ottawa and the Catholic entities about one part of their obligations.
At issue was whether lawyers for both sides had struck a deal freeing the church groups from all their financial commitments — including the $25 million for survivors — in exchange for a payment of $1.2 million, or only had an agreement covering a more narrow part of their financial responsibilities.
Ultimately, Justice Neil Gabrielson ruled the agreement covered all the church's financial commitments, allowing Catholic entities to walk away from their fundraising promise to survivors after raising less than $4 million.
Records obtained by The Canadian Press show that a month after that July 2015 decision, federal officials filed a "protective notice of appeal" while negotiating a final release agreement with the Catholic groups.
By Oct. 30, 2015, a final agreement was signed by the former deputy minister in what had been called Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Canada, freeing the Catholic entities of their financial obligations.
"Canada does hereby remise, release and forever discharge the Catholic entities, its directors, officers, shareholders, agents, lawyers, and employees, of and from all manners of actions, causes of action, suits, debts, dues, accounts, bonds whatsoever against the releasees," it reads.
It continues: "Canada further covenants and agrees not directly or indirectly to join, assist, aid, or act in concert in any manner whatsoever with any person or entity in making any financial claim or demand whatsoever against the releasees."
There is much more to this story at CBC News.
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This story strikes me as a stinging rebuke to those who may be responsible for his death. In his book "In God's Name", award-winning investigative journalist David Yallop lays out a very convincing case for believing that John Paul 1 was murdered.
Pope Francis beatifies 'smiling pope' Pope John Paul I
By Daniel Uria
Pope Francis on Sunday beatified John Paul I, who was known as "the smiling pope" and died just 33 days after he was elected.
Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Pope Francis on Sunday beatified his predecessor John Paul I, placing him one step closer to sainthood.
John Paul I earned a representation as "the smiling pope" before he died unexpectedly in Sept. 28, 1978, just 33 days after he was elected as pope. He was succeeded by John Paul II.
"With a smile, Pope John Paul I managed to communicate the goodness of the Lord," Francis said.
"How beautiful is a church with a happy, serene and smiling face, that never closes doors, never hardens hearts, never complains or harbors resentment, does not grow angry or impatient, does not look dour or suffer nostalgia for the past."
A large banner bearing a portrait of John Paul I hung on St. Peter's Basilica.
John Paul I was the first pope to be born in the 20th century and the most recent pope to be born in Italy.
Born, Albino Luciani, on Oct. 17, 1912, he also became the first pope to take a double name honoring his predecessors Popes John XXIII and Paul VI.
He presided over only four general audiences as pope before he died at the age of 65.
"Lord, take me as I am, with my defects, with my shortcomings, but make me become what you want me to be," he said in a prayer shortly before his death.
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