He says papal decrees - called bulls - supporting the "Doctrine of Discovery" (the Doctrine) provided justification for "both political and personal violence against indigenous peoples."

He wants "a public acknowledgment from the Holy Father of the harm these bulls have done to the indigenous population."

The Doctrine draws from a series of papal documents dating back to 1452.

These were also included in future documents: Indigenous peoples were read the Spanish conquistadors' "Requerimiento", proclaiming their land belonged to Spain and demanding they abide by the monarchy's and the pope's authority.

"This particular doctrine has been used to justify both political and personal violence against Indigenous nations, Indigenous peoples and their culture — their religious and their territorial identities," Lucia says.

As recently as 2005 the US Supreme Court ruled that repurchasing traditional tribal lands does not "unilaterally revive (the tribe's) ancient sovereignty" over it.

"I've been trying to bring attention to this question of why the church, if it really wants to seek restorative justice, can't just issue apologies," says David McCallum SJ who alerted Lucia to the historical facts.

A papal bull from Alexander VI's in 1493, for instance, gave Spanish explorers the freedom to colonize the Americas and to convert Native peoples to Catholicism.

Lucia says last US spring when the US bishops' conference (USCCB) discussed ministry to Native Alaskans and Native Americans, he asked about residential schools for indigenous children and the Doctrine.

These schools' legacy has been in the news lately after hundreds of unmarked graves were found at three former schools in Canada.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has asked Francis to apologize — on Canadian soil — for the Church's role in this.

Up to 60 percent of Canada's 139 residential schools were run by the Catholic Church. An Indigenous delegation from Canada will meet Francis in December "to foster meaningful encounters of dialogue and healing."

The USCCB says it is watching the investigation "closely", pledging to "look for ways to be of assistance." However,

Lucia says he hasn't had any reaction from it about his concerns.

Although the Church rescinded the Doctrine centuries ago, this doesn't address the "enormity of the trauma and generational impact" the teachings had on Indigenous peoples, says McCallum.

There have been various Indigenous delegations to Rome - one in 2016 - to press the Vatican about the Doctrine.

"There have been responses ..., but they're not taking responsibility for anything," says Steven Newcomb, the Shawnee/Lenape co-founder of the Indigenous Law Institute, who led the 2016 delegation.

Numerous Protestant religious groups have rebuked the Doctrine, as did the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, which called on Francis to rescind the Doctrine in 2014.

"Simple apologies are not sufficient," Newcomb says. "There needs to be a real reckoning."

Lucia agrees: "Even as a Church we are called to conversion. I think this might be one of those conversion moments."

Source

• Religion News Service
• Image: Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse

Tensions boiled over after the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves in residential schools. The graves are thought to belong to indigenous Canadians.

A statue of Queen Victoria was toppled during protests in Winnipeg, Manitoba on Thursday, before it was beheaded. The head was then thrown into the Assiniboine River.

Queen Elizabeth's statue was also toppled.

The vandalism at the churches included spattered paint over a statue of Jesus Christ, painted handprints on doors and text reading "Charge the priests" and "Our lives matter."

The protests come amid allegations about abuses in the country's residential school system, which saw at least 150,000 children forced into institutions under Queen Victoria's rule.

Britons have lashed out following the protest with many arguing the Queen is not "responsible" for the actions which happened "so long ago".

"There is no excuse for this sort of behaviour, and it doesn't set a good example."

Someone else said: "They are behaving like uncivilized barbaric animals!

"I am in shock...did not expect this kind of behaviour from Canadians.

On Twitter on Thursday, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney called the vandalism "appalling."

"This is where hatred based on collective guilt for historic injustices leads us. Let's seek unity, respect and reconciliation instead," he said.

Similar acts of vandalism have been documented elsewhere in Canada, including in Edmonton and Saskatoon.

‘I know that the Catholic church leadership is looking and very actively engaged in what next steps can be taken.'

Calgary police are investigating after at least 11 city Catholic churches were vandalised.

Indigenous groups say they have now identified more than 1,100 graves, mostly belonging to young people who attended residential schools.

Up to 6,000 are thought to have died in the schools, mainly in British Columbia and Saskatchewan. The schools were controlled mainly by the Catholic community.

The Catholic Church is yet to make a formal apology for the way indigenous children were treated. However, Pope Francis has scheduled to meet Indigenous survivors who attended the controversial schools at the end of the year.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Bishops of Canada said that a delegation of Indigenous People is scheduled to meet with the Holy Father from 17 to 20 December 2021, "to foster meaningful encounters of dialogue and healing."

Sources

• Metro
• Calgary Herald
• Vatican News