Archdiocese apologizes after priest accuses residential school survivors of lying
A Winnipeg archdiocese will no longer allow a Catholic priest to preach publicly or teach after he suggested during a sermon that residential school survivors lied to get settlement money.
"His words have deeply, deeply hurt people," said Archbishop Albert LeGatt in a video posted on the Archdiocese of Saint Boniface's social media Thursday.
"I completely disavow his words."
The priest, Rheal Forest, made the comments during a handful of masses at St. Emile Catholic Church in Winnipeg earlier this month. Forest was filling in for the parish's regular priest.
During one service, Forest said he worked in the north for 22 years and believes students enjoyed their time at residential schools. He also suggested survivors claimed they were victims of sexual abuse to get settlement money.
"If they wanted extra money, for the money that was given to them, they had to lie sometimes," Forest told parishioners.
"Lie that they were abused sexually and, oop, another $50,000. It's kind of hard if you are poor not to lie."
The services were broadcast on social media through the church's Facebook page. CBC News captured the videos before they were deleted earlier this week.
Forest also said if students were abused, it wasn't by priests. He suggested it was by night watchmen.
Forest also claimed that the media is evil and run by freemasons.
LeGatt said he is sorry for pain the priest's remarks caused to Indigenous people, particularly residential school survivors.
"I and, I hope, more and more people will come to that place of completely disavowing that kind of thinking ... that kind of racism," the archbishop said.
LeGatt asked for forgiveness and said the diocese, especially church leadership, has a responsibility to understand the truth of what happened at residential schools. He called on all Catholics to join him on the journey of reconciliation.
The priest's comments come as the country has been forced to face its history with Indigenous people. In recent months, unmarked graves have been located at the sites of numerous former residential schools across the country.
An estimated 150,000 First Nations, Inuit and Metis children were forced to attend residential schools.
Survivors told the Truth and Reconciliation Commission stories of abuse they endured while staying at the schools, including instances of starvation and harsh discipline. Nearly 38,000 claims of sexual and serious physical abuse were submitted as part of the independent assessment process of the residential school settlement agreement.
At the time of the commission's final report, more than 40 former residential school staff members were convicted for abuse.
Mounties in Manitoba said earlier this week that officers there have been investigating abuse allegations at Fort Alexander Residential School, northeast of Winnipeg, for more than a decade. No charges have been laid.
'CANADA HAS LIVED IN DENIAL'
Southern Chiefs’ Organization Grand Chief Jerry Daniels says these comments prove that the church is still not paying attention to how devastating residential schools were.
"We're finding bodies in the residential schools that were managed by the Catholic Church," said Daniels.
He said the facts speak for themselves and he is appalled someone within the church would try to downplay the seriousness of these schools.
"You have to have a church who is willing to come to grips with the truth of what happened and their role in that and not defending themselves or trying to protect themselves from this."
Daniels said the church needs to help with reconciliation efforts, adding it's not Indigenous peoples' jobs to educate the Catholic community and instead, they need to keep up with what actually happened.
The Grand Chief said he isn't surprised by the comments because "Canada has lived in denial."
"People just need to understand how deeply impactful the residential experience was and what kind of imprint it has left on the minds and on the hearts of the survivors and their families."
- With files from CTV's Devon McKendrick.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 29, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.