Pope Apologizes to Canadian First Nations for Boarding School Abuses

On Wednesday, the Pope issued a statement of sorrow to leaders of Canada's First Nations, after a meeting with a delegation.

Here is part of the story from a Candian Broadcasting Corporation report:

On the eve of its private audience with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican on Wednesday, a small delegation from Canada's Assembly of First Nations hailed the event as "historic and momentous."

During the meeting behind closed doors, the Pope is expected to read a statement about the Roman Catholic Church's role in the residential school system in Canada.

The church administered three-quarters of residential schools across Canada, but has yet to apologize for the abuse suffered by many of the 90,000 former students still alive.

Assembly of First Nations Leader Phil Fontaine is part of the delegation, which also includes elders and survivors.

The statement drew mixed reactions from other First Nations groups back in Canada, as reported by the CBC. Inuit leaders are scheduled to meet with the Pope later.

Here's an excerpt from some of the reactions. You can read the whole article here.

Now this is great, but note that the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a government apology last year. That was more meaningful for some people, given the level of denial that a lot of Catholic Churches are still displaying in Canada and the U.S.

What about American Indians and other Native Americans who are U.S. citizens? I think we've got a good opportunity with President Obama. There is a move underway to have him apologize too.

You can sign a petition toward that end HERE. They're not even half way to their goal and it only takes a couple of minutes.