Leading Canadian bishop laments treatment of indigenous during Age of Discovery
April 05, 2016
The president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has joined leaders of other Canadian Catholic organizations in lamenting the European confiscation of the land of indigenous persons during the Age of Discovery.
Repudiating “illegitimate concepts and principles used by Europeans to justify the seizure of land previously held by Indigenous Peoples,” the Canadian Catholic leaders said that “as we ask for mercy from the Father of us all, we pray that we might find appropriate ways to deal with the waves of hurt and pain caused by members of the Catholic community in the past.”
In a separate document, the Catholic leaders also expressed their support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
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Further information:
- Catholic responses to Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action 48 and questions regarding the “Doctrine of Discovery” (CCCB)
- A Catholic Response to Call to Action 48 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (CCCB)
- The “Doctrine of Discovery” and Terra Nullius: A Catholic Response (CCCB)
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Posted by: loumiamo -
Apr. 06, 2016 7:09 PM ET USA
This is an issue that needed to be addressed. Before the Europeans came the indigenous peoples there had never fought with each other, had never warred for land with each other, never dragged off women & children while murdering the men of a different tribe. Long lost but recently recovered evidence shows that Kumbaya is the ancient hymn of these peoples. Praise Jesus that this wrong is being righted.
