As National Truth and Reconciliation Day becomes a statutory holiday in British Columbia this year, Archbishop J. Michael says the Sept. 30 observance is an opportunity to “reaffirm our commitment to the pursuit of truth.“
In a letter to the faithful that he said he was writing “with a heavy yet hopeful heart,” the Archbishop said, “as Catholics we are morally bound to confront the truth of our past and to engage actively in the journey towards reconciliation.”
Saying “it is through truth-telling that we confront our shared history,” he invited Catholics “to take time to listen with an open heart and mind to the stories and experiences of Indigenous Peoples.”
The Archbishop also referred to the challenges of truth-telling in a world that “has become increasingly ‘post-truth,’ where the line between fact and fiction has often become blurred.”
Remarking on unfounded claims in news coverage of residential school history, he said, “Unfounded claims have at times been published in the media that suppress truth and impede initiatives of reconciliation. It is essential that we engage in dialogue that is grounded in the truth and open to recognizing the inherent good in one another.”
In observing the holiday, he called Catholics to “honour the courage of those who have come forward to share their stories, especially Indigenous Peoples whose voices have all too often been marginalized. Let us recognize that reconciliation can only come about when it is grounded in a mutual unwavering commitment to truth.”
He closed the letter by praying that “the Creator bless us with the strength and wisdom to be instruments of unity, and may today mark yet another significant step toward a more just and harmonious future for all of us.”
