In light of the heartbreaking disclosure of the discovery of the remains of 215 children at the Kamloops Indian Residential School, and the continuing discoveries of other children buried without names or identification on the grounds of Catholic-run residential schools across Canada, we the undersigned wish to petition:

Bishop Christian Riesbeck, CC, Diocese of Saint John

Archbishop Richard Gagnon, President, CCCB

Cardinal Marc Ouellet

Pope Francis

·      To issue a formal papal apology to the First Nations people of Canada, for the suffering and deaths of generations of indigenous children under the care and tutelage of residential schools operated by Catholic orders and dioceses; (Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action #58)

·      To mandate all Catholic organizations to be fully transparent with any archives and records related to all residential schools, and to urge all government organizations to do the same;

·      To assist all affected First Nations with technological and professional support, in whatever manner these First Nations choose to honour, retrieve and commemorate their deceased children; (Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action #73, #74, #75, #76)

·      To have Canadian Bishops renew their efforts to listen to indigenous peoples so that the Church can learn how we may best accompany them along the path of truth and justice.

As members of the body of Christ we petition that moral integrity, truth and justice take precedence over the compulsion to minimize legal liability. We believe this is what Jesus Christ would want us to do.