Canada: Anglican primates Welby visit indigenous people

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The Archbishop of Canterbury could therefore potentially ask for forgiveness. The focus is on church schools and homes where indigenous children were taken from their parents for the purpose of “re-education”. Canada’s Anglican Church had already announced the trip in February.

“A key purpose of this visit is to…repent and atone for where our relationships and actions have done more harm than good — and to honor the sovereignty of indigenous communities,” Welby said ahead of the visit, which lasts until Tuesday The history of the Church of England in Canada has “brought continued suffering and injury to indigenous communities,” the primate said. As part of Welby’s visit, there will also be a reception with Indigenous leaders in Toronto before his return to the UK on Tuesday. The trip is at the invitation of Canada’s Primate, Archbishop Linda Nicholls.

Welby is scheduled to visit the James Smith Cree Nation in Saskatchewan, about 100 miles northeast of Saskatoon, over the weekend to meet with home system officials and survivors. Before that, he is to travel from Saskatoon to Prince Albert, about 60 kilometers west of the James Smith Cree Nation.

Between 1820 and 1969, the Anglican Church operated around 30 schools and boarding schools and more than 150 day schools in Canada. Canada’s Anglican Church apologized to survivors in 1993 and 2019, including for “cultural and spiritual arrogance” towards indigenous peoples.

Pope Francis in Canada

Pope Francis plans to visit Canada this summer. He recently apologized in Rome for the behavior of members of the Roman Catholic Church in the Canadian school system.

(kna-sst)

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