A Canadian MP has raised the issue of the serious financial situation faced by churches in Canada concerning lawsuits over the treatment of children in residential schools.
"Surely it is important to make sure that the churches involved do not go bankrupt or are so severely damaged that much of their social services and social action work will have to be eliminated just to survive," said New Democratic Party member, Bill Blaikie, in a statement to the Canadian House of Commons.
"It is important that justice be accomplished swiftly for those who have legitimate claims. This cannot be done if this issue drags on for years, claim by claim," the MP said. So far, the Anglican Church of Canada alone faces over 350 lawsuits by nearly 1,500 plaintiffs.
"The churches must and will take their share of the responsibility, but let us not forget that they participated in this social and cultural tragedy at the behest of and in co-operation with the federal government."
"The more public discussion there can be on this issue now the better " said the General Secretary of the Anglican Church of Canada, Archdeacon Jim Boyles, welcoming the statement by Bill Blaikie, "not just for the sake of the churches, but for the public to take a concern or the aboriginal people whose lives have been damaged and who continue to live in difficult circumstances."
The Canadian Church has recently employed a lobby firm in Ottawa to push its case, and distributed copies to all MPs of an issue of Ministry Matters that focuses on the residential schools. Negotiations between the federal Department of Indian Affairs and Department of Justice, with four Christian denominations (Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian and United) have agreed that the continuing viability of church organisations is an important goal.
Article from: Anglican Journal