As you may well know, ICN operates financially on the basis of three begging letters a year, including one that goes out in February with the official tax receipts for funds received.

The latest letter in October asked for feedback on the First Nations Residential Schools issue. Below is some of our response.

1. From Richard Shields, Dundas , ON

Your treatment of Residential Schools is fair and balanced. It rightly focuses on moral dimensions of church decisions, both “then” and “now.” My broader concerns in a question: Is the ICN reaching beyond older reform minded Catholics? Either to younger disaffiliated Catholics or to older more conservative Catholics?

Your pilgrimage and interviews across Canada the last few years was interesting in this regard, but lacked any hopeful ideas for a way forward.

2. From Peggy and Sandy in Victoria

We thought the articles in your last publication were very good. Of course, the church be held to account. Love and prayers.

3. From Carl Blais, Victoria

Reconciliation is very significant and comes at a time when all of us humans need to repair the damage done to each other, and also to planet Earth.

Part of the reconciliation process is the way to create unity with Indigenous people. They were the first ones from the land, i.e. all of Canada and we have a lot to learn from them, as to how to relate and manage the resources of this country with the wisdom and knowledge of Indigenous leaders and elders. They have a special relationship with the earth and ocean because they strive to live in harmony with the trees, the forests, the waters and fish as well as other wildlife.

As we experience climate change, it is essential to enter into dialogue with Indigenous people to find ways to repair relationships with each other and how we can repair the damage done to the environment.

For a positive outcome to this RSS traumatic event, there needs to be accountability and forgiveness so we non-Indigenous and Indigenous can move forward with respect and confidence, and rediscover hope and true spiritual values that come from the heart of the Creator.

4. From Doug Stelling, West Vancouver

I wonder if we will ever truly learn our lesson from the experience we have all had from the Indigenous Residential Schools. I just read a book called A National Crime – The Canadian Government and the Residential School System, 1879-1986 by John S. Milloy.
On the cover is a note: “Milloy’s book should be mandatory reading for all citizens of the Americas – The Globe and Mail. I have just finished reading it for the third time.

In the epilogue on page 299 of the 2017 edition, I made a note of my feelings regarding the Residential Schools Legacy and our continued efforts at warring with each other.

When we become willing to end our massive prison system, de-institutionalize our countries and end our war budget of 1 trillion dollars per year, we then will have begun to show that we have learned something. They are all linked to this issue of priorities.

5. From Lou Duigou, St. Albert, AB

I think we are finally making progress in reconciliation – much more to go. A ray of hope for growth and change due to the upcoming global synod.

6. From Dennis H.J. Benoit, Vancouver

The last issues of ICN certainly contained some important articles, this time regarding the terrible discovery of the unmarked graves of many kids at the former Catholic residential school in Kamloops and elsewhere.

One thing I still don’t know exactly is how they died. A plague or disease perhaps. My prayers will be for the benefit of all those directly involved in the reconciliation process. I really enjoyed Gerry Archibald’s column.

7. From Kathy Pegg, St. Albert, AB
Found the last issue of ICN revealing.

8. From Gerry and Charlotte Herkel, Qualicum Beach, BC
We feel your focus on the indigenous residential school crisis is very good, and objective.

9. From Janet Carten, Vancouver
Enjoyed the last issue very much. Keep up the good work. We need that kind of news here on the west coast.

10. From Moira Carley, Westmount, QC
Thanks for the Indigenous articles and for publishing our letter. Be well.

11. From Christopher Adam, Ottawa, ON
Thanks for continuing to edit and publish the most thoughtful Catholic publication in Canada!

12. From Mildred Kerr, Saskatoon, SK
I’m impressed and encouraged by your progressive and courageous articles about our Holy Catholic Church and mission closer to Catholic Worker’s example with our poorest, and against armaments and as aboriginal social work professor and musician sang “We are all one colour to the Lord”.

13. From Raymond Potvin, Windsor, ON
Good depth and fairness-in-balance characterized your articles regarding the Indigenous Residential Schools horror. Balanced assessment of the blame due in hindsight…and the imbalance in the acceptance of it, especially from the governmental half of the abominable collaboration. As with your “take” on the Merton assassination, ICN provides a perspective both sincere and unique… why we’ll sign up for another 2 years.

14. From Leo Pettovel, Windsor, ON
Since you have presented the rants of those who have drunk the “Kool Aid”, T. Reese, S.J., D.P. Horan, O.F.M and Bishop A. Jones perhaps you could present the alternative (sane) views of those of us who refuse to drink the “Kool-Aid”.

15. From Grant Jahnke, Toronto, ON
Been meaning to drop you a line to applaud the past two issues. Appreciated the retrospectives on Kung. I think your coverage of Indigenous issues has been a good addition to the huge amount that is being published. I was surprised to find myself agreeing with Raymond de Sousa. The trope that I hear repeated with great fervour is that “the Catholic Church has not apologized. All the other churches have!” Which of course just is not the case. Affirming this is definitely not to exonerate the church. But in these times when savagely fought “binaries” are becoming ubiquitous, a starting point that does not ignore the facts is surely valuable to a challenging discourse.