TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A group of Toronto-area Catholics has launched a petition calling on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to be held accountable for his misleading rhetoric against the Catholic Church in the wake of the Residential Schools scandal. Begun by Catholic Equalizer, a group of Canadians who chose Catholicism in adulthood, the petition has achieved over 4,400 signatures.
The petition, which does not deny the devastating conditions at the schools, accuses Trudeau of scapegoating the Catholic Church as a way of deflecting vitriol over the discovery of unmarked graves from the Canadian Government’s role in the scandal.
Although the Truth and Reconciliation Commission reports were completed and made available to the public years ago, Trudeau’s latest volley of irresponsible rhetoric has undeniably set off a firestorm of anti-Catholic bigotry across Canada. At least six Catholic Churches – ironically including those serving Indigenous communities – have been burned, while many others have been vandalized and graffitied with hate speech.
“We fully acknowledge the intergenerational pain and anguish experienced by the Indigenous Peoples. We stand with them as they seek justice. But we also stand against prejudgment in all forms,” said one petition organizer. “It is particularly egregious during this time of sorrow for a politician to exploit prejudice and ignorance for political gain under a veil of morality. Political games and false appearances only serve to betray Indigenous reconciliation.”
Petition supporters encourage Canadians, as well as People of Faith everywhere, to reject Justin Trudeau’s government-inspired attacks against the Catholic Church by signing the petition.
The petition, which is addressed directly at the Prime Minister, states:
“Deflecting media attention and outrage to the Catholic Church alone is political opportunism and does not reflect well on your office or on Canada.
“It is not appropriate to blame an entire religion or an entire church for the sins of some of its members…Catholics should not have been involved in a government program to mistreat indigenous people and destroy their families…But we must remember that these grave sins are not the policy or the intent of the Church. There was no Vatican policy or program to implement the Residential School system in Canada.”
The objective of the petition is to bring to light the bias held by many against the Catholic Church while acknowledging the need for reconciliation and healing with the Indigenous Peoples of Canada. Those who support this petition may sign it here:
www.change.org/p/justin-trudeau-it-is-not-right-to-slander-the-catholic-church
For an in-depth understanding of the Residential Schools scandal to date, including the facts about releasing records, papal apologies and unmarked graves, an article has been posted on Medium: https://catholicequalizer.medium.com/indigenous-justice-requires-the-unbiased-truth-not-misinformed-hate-eec3484a04e