Justin Trudeau blasts Catholic Church for ignoring crimes against indigenous children

After discovery of remains of 215 students, Canian PM Justin Trudeau on June 4 called out Catholic Church for refusing to apologize for its part in operating many of country’s residential schools for indigenous children. Remains of children as young as three were found buried on site of former Kamloops Indian Residential School. unmarked graves were uneard at former residential school, which was an institution that forcibly separated indigenous children from ir parents to assimilate m into Canian society.

“As a Catholic, I am deeply disappointed by position Catholic Church has taken now and over past many years,” Trudeau told reporters. 

He ded, “We expect Church to step up and take responsibility for its role in this”. 

school was one of 130 schools which hosted 150,000 indigenous children. It was run by Catholic Church from late 19th century to 1960s and was n taken over by federal government, and later closed in 1970s. While schools argued that y were imparting knowledge, a report in 2015 found that children were subjected to abuse, malnutrition and rape and at least 4,000 of m died while being at se reform institutes.

Trudeau said many are “wondering why Catholic Church in Cana is silent, is not stepping up”. 

Canian PM also described visiting Vatican in 2017 and asking Pope Francis for an apology at that time. He said he’s still waiting. Trudeau ded that he hoped Vatican would apologize or else he would “have to start taking Catholic Church to court”. 

UN calls for investigation 

Meanwhile, a  team of nine UN Human rights experts have urged Canian government and Vatican to hold a swift and thorough investigation into discovery of unmarked graves in British Columbia. In a statement, experts urged authorities to conduct forensic examinations of remains found as well as to expedite identification of missing children. “It is inconceivable that Cana and Holy See would leave such heinous crimes unaccounted for and without full redress,” y said. 

“For far too many years, victims and ir families have been waiting for justice and remedy. Accountability, comprehensive truth, and full reparation must be urgently pursued”, human rights experts underscored. 

(Image: AP/TWITTER)