Immediate Responses to Summary Report by Truth and Reconciliation Commission

Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
June 4, 2015

http://www.cccb.ca/site/eng/media-room/announcements/4211-immediate-responses-to-summary-report-by-truth-and-reconciliation-commission

Immediately following the presentation of the summary report by Justice Murray Sinclair, Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), on June 2, 2015, the Most Reverend Gerard Pettipas, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Grouard-McLennan and President of the corporation of Catholic Entities party to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement (CEPIRSS), released a statement. CEPIRSS represents 17 dioceses and 37 religious institutes involved in managing and helping to operate the former Indian Residential Schools which were under the jurisdiction of the Government of Canada.

A joint statement was also issued on behalf of The Anglican Church of Canada, The Presbyterian Church in Canada, the Roman Catholic Entities Parties to the Settlement Agreement, The United Church of Canada, and the Jesuits of English Canada.

Neither the Catholic Bishops of Canada as a group nor the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) was ever involved in the operations or management of the former Indian Residential Schools. The Anglican Church of Canada, The Presbyterian Church in Canada, and the United Church of Canada were involved as national bodies in decision-making and management involving the schools. However, the CCCB is not the national office of the Catholic Church in Canada, nor does it have authority over dioceses or religious communities in the country.