Canadian survivors of abuse inflicted by Catholic clergy during the 20th century are demanding an apology from Pope Benedict XVI similar to the one he offered to victims in the U.S. in April. During his visit to the United States in April, the Pope said he was "deeply ashamed" of the child sex abuse scandal that has rocked the U.S. branch of the church since 2002.
"No words of mine could describe the pain and harm inflicted by such abuse," he said at the time.
Survivors' groups in Canada and Australia said they hope the Pope will say similar words to them in Australia later this month during World Youth Day, a Catholic evangelical festival that will feature the Pope conducting mass and leading prayer meetings.
"I believe he should apologize," said Don Courchene, a former student at the Fort Alexander Indian Residential School in Manitoba.
Courchene, who has made a career of promoting First Nations businesses and projects in Manitoba, told CBC News that he has mostly come to terms with his experiences at the school. But he said he still believes the Pope must take the next step.
"The world has got to know we've suffered this indignation," he said. "The Pope has to recognize it … you know, come clean and say, 'Yes, we did wrong and we're sorry.' "
Apology offered in 1991: Canadian archbishop
Roch Longueepee, who heads a survivors' group called Restoring Dignity, told CBC News that many of his members experienced physical and sexual abuse in Catholic schools and orphanages throughout the last century.
Longueepee called on Pope Benedict to meet with victims groups and incorporate input from the meetings into his apology.
"We ask him to consider, in both thought and prayer, the good and the strength that can come from a genuine, heartfelt apology," he said.
The Pope's ambassador to Canada, Archbishop Luigi Ventura, referred questions to the Canadian Council of Catholic Bishops.
Speaking for the council, the Archbishop of Winnipeg, James Weisgerber, told CBC News that Pope John Paul II offered an apology in 1991 for the sexual abuse by Roman Catholic clergy.
He said the challenge now is for those groups to work towards reconciliation.
"It is much more appropriate that the people directly involved, who were responsible, who are accountable, that they apologize," Weisgerber said. "That has been done. An apology is the beginning of process of reconciliation, and we're committed to continue to do that."
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