Single Issue: $1.00 Publication Mail Agreement No. 40030139 CATHOLIC JOURNAL Vol. 93 No. 27 December 23/30, 2015 Year of Mercy TRC report begins a new reconciliation “You don’t just talk about mercy, you do it,” says By Deborah Gyapong Rev. Brian Meredith, pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish OTTAWA (CCN) — The legal in Estevan, Sask. “It’s sup - phase of the Truth and Recon - posed to be an action.” ciliation Commission (TRC) on — page 3 Indian residential schools is now Papal apology over, but a new reconciliation phase has begun, say Catholics Prime Minister Justin involved in the process. Trudeau told journalists On Dec. 15, the TRC released Dec. 16, the day after the its voluminous seven-volume Truth and Reconciliation final report that provides more Commission detail and context for the 94 Calls released its to Action it had unveiled last June final report, along with the lengthy executive that he summary of the final report. The would make report groups the Calls to Action into five categories, such as: child a request for welfare; education; language and Pope culture; health; and justice. Francis to “Reconciliation will require come to Canada to make more than pious words about the an apology for Indian shortcomings of those who preced - Art Babych residential schools. ed us,” the report says. “It obliges FINAL TRC REPORT — Truth and Reconciliation Commission members Chief Wilton Littlechild, left, — page 5 us to both recognize the ways in Justice Murray Sinclair (chair), and Dr. Marie Wilson unveil their final report in Ottawa before hundreds of Consecrated life which the legacy of residential people, including residential school survivors, church representatives and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. schools continues to disfigure As the Year of Consecrated Canadian life and to abandon poli - remain are under threat, it says. It urges a reformed justice sys - 50 Catholic Entities, the legal Life draws to a close, cies and approaches that currently The report also blames more tem “based on Aboriginal law and body formed to respond to the lit - Greater Saskatoon Catholic serve to extend that hurtful legacy.” than 3,000 recorded deaths of healing practices and under igation that led to the IRSSA. “It Schools continue to It describes the present child Aboriginal children through Aboriginal control.” isn’t by making laws you are celebrate the contributions welfare system — which today infectious diseases and suicide on The TRC will now close going to overcome racism.” that sisters, priests and places more indigenous children “coldness” and “indifference” and down, and transfer its archives to “Look at what’s continuing to bishops have made to in foster care than had attended says the real figures are probably the National Centre for Truth and happen in the United States with Catholic education. residential schools in any single higher due to bad record keeping. Reconciliation at the University black Americans,” the archbishop — page 6 year — as the “residential school The report argues these deaths of Manitoba. said. “You still have white cops system of our day.” were preventable. “It’s a successful commission killing black kids. A lot has to hap - Our Jewish roots It blasts the present education - The TRC report indicts the jus - in that the Canadian public has pen at the grassroots and for peo - al system, describing schools on tice system, saying residential been made aware of the life and ple to come to a conversion in Just in time for Christmas, reserves as a “national disgrace.” school survivors were often “re- the legacy of the Indian residen - their own hearts about the issues. the Vatican is reminding the The TRC report exposes dispa - victimized” when they sought tial schools,” said Montreal-based That takes time. We’re going to be world just how Jewish the rate health outcomes for Abo riginal redress for physical and sexual lawyer Pierre Baribeau who has at this reconciliation project for a Christian religion really is, people that “would simply not be abuse and only a fraction of represented Catholic dioceses and long time.” writes Michael Swan. tolerated by other Canadians.” abusers faced criminal charges. religious orders involved in the “The TRC believes that, too,” — page 7 It blames cultural genocide Only 50 people were convicted, Indian Residential Schools Pettipas said. “They knew from Human drama exemplified by policies within the the report says. Today, Aboriginal Settlement Agreement (IRSSA). the beginning they weren’t going residential schools that punished Canadians face higher arrest, con - “I think reconciliation is very to bring about reconciliation.” For holiday viewing Gerald children for using their own viction and incarceration rates and much a grassroots effort,” said The final document is “huge,” Schmitz highlights a “carol” tongues for the loss of many are more likely to experience vio - Grouard-McLennan Archbishop lence than non-Aboriginals, it says. Gerard Pettipas, president of the — PETTIPAS , page 7 of a differ - Aboriginal languages. The 90 that ent sort. The film Carol is In Jan. 1 message, pope asks rich to lift burden of debt an intimate human By Carol Glatz which was delivered to world lead - the living conditions of prisoners, dangerous working conditions. drama ers by Vatican ambassadors, was especially those still awaiting He said he hoped those who are already VATICAN CITY (CNS) — released at the Vatican Dec. 15. trial. Since rehabilitation should ill could be guaranteed access to showered Pope Francis called for abolishing The message, titled Overcome be the aim of penal sanctions, medical treatment, necessary with awards and nomina - the death penalty worldwide, lift - Indifference and Win Peace, con - effective alternatives to incarcera - medications and home care. tions since its Cannes debut ing the burden of debt on poor tained a three-fold appeal to the tion should be considered as well The pope’s message focused and leading the Golden nations, global aid policies that world’s leaders. as the abolition of the death penal - on the dangers of cynicism and Globes parade. respect life and revamped laws that He asked that countries: ty. The pope asked government indifference against God, neigh - — page 9 welcome and integrate migrants. “refrain from drawing other peo - authorities to consider “the possi - bour and creation. Meaning He urged individuals, commu - ples into conflicts of wars,” bility of an amnesty” or pardon. “Disregard and the denial of nities and nations to not let indif - which not only destroy a nation’s The pope called on national God,” he said, “have produced of Christmas ference, information overload or infrastructure and cultural her - governments to review their cur - untold cruelty and violence.” And pessimism discourage them from itage, but also their “moral and rent laws on immigration and find the exploitation of natural “There is an adult message concrete efforts “to improve the spiritual integrity”; forgive or ways they could “reflect a readi - resources and mistreatment of about Christ in Christmas world around us, beginning with make less burdensome interna - ness to welcome migrants and to animals have an effect “on the and the meaning of our families, neighbours and tional debt of poorer nations; and facilitate their integration” as well way we treat other people.” Christmas is to be under - places of employment.” “adopt policies of co-operation as respect the rights and responsi - “With the present Jubilee of stood as much by looking at Building peace, he said, is not which, instead of bowing before bilities of all parties concerned. Mercy, I want to invite the church the cross as by looking at the accomplished by words alone, but the dictatorship of certain ideolo - All nations’ leaders should to pray and work so that every crib,” writes Ron Rolheiser, through the grace of God, a con - gies, will respect the values of the also take concrete measures in Christian will have a humble and OMI. “Hardly the stuff of version of heart, an attitude of local populations” and not harm alleviating the problem of a lack compassionate heart” and that all our Christmas lights, carols, compassion and the courage to the “fundamental and inalienable of housing, land and employment, people will learn “to forgive and cribs, and Santa. And yet, act against despair. right to life of the unborn.” the pope wrote, as well as stop to give,” he said in his message. these too have their place.” The pope’s multifaceted plea Also part of building peace in discrimination against women in God is never indifferent to the — page 11 came in his message for World the world, he said, is addressing the workplace, which included Peace Day, Jan. 1. The message, the urgent problem of improving unfair wages and precarious or — GOD’S MERCy , page 15 2 Prairie Messenger INTERNATIONAL NEWS December 23/30, 2015 Patriarch urges Christmas solidarity for violence victims By Judith Sudilovsky caught in the vicious cycle of the sale of arms to the belliger - dialogue is of paramount impor - the current tense situation, and bloody violence. What pain to see ents,” he said in his message. “We tance where difficulties exist, but said they would find three doors JERUSALEM (CNS) — Latin anew, hatred prevail over reason call to conversion these un - it is necessary to continue to hope designated as Doors of Mercy Patriarch Fouad Twal urged mod - and dialogue. The anguish of the scrupulous arm dealers who may all the more, to the viability of a during the Year of Mercy. erate celebrations of Christmas people of this land is ours, which be without conscience, to make Jewish-Christian-Muslim dia - “The pilgrim route is safe and this year because of the current we cannot ignore or disregard. amends. Great is your responsibil - logue,” he said.