wfn.org | Cdn. Churches Have Trust in Truth & Reconciliation Commissioners

["Broadhurst, Tom" <tbroadhu@united-church.ca>]

News Release -- Thursday, October 23, 2008

Churches Express Confidence in Truth and Reconciliation Com missioners

Toronto:  The Anglican, Presbyterian, and United churches,  and 51 Roman
Catholic entities, who are all parties to the Indian Re sidential Schools
Settlement Agreement, today expressed regret over the resig nation of
Justice Harry LaForme while affirming their confidence in  Truth and
Reconciliation Commissioners Claudette Dumont-Smith and Jane  Brewin
Morley.

On Monday, October 20, Justice LaForme resigned as Chair  of the Truth
and Reconciliation Commission, citing a disagreement on the  vision and a
breakdown in the working relationship with the commissioner s. As a
result, editorials in the national press have called for  the
resignations of the other two commissioners.

"Our contact with the commissioners has always been helpf ul, positive,
respectful of Justice LaForme, and understanding of the v ision and
mandate of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission," said  Archbishop
Terence Finlay, the Primate's Special Envoy for Residential  Schools of
the Anglican Church of Canada.

The Rev. James Scott, the United Church's General Council  Officer for
Residential Schools and one of the negotiators of the C ommission's
mandate, said, "The mandate and operation of the Commissi on was
envisioned as inclusive, transparent, collaborative, and faci litative.
Both truth-telling and reconciliation processes are central  for
survivors and for our nation as a whole as we address  this tragic
chapter in Canadian history. We believe that Ms. Dumont-S mith and Ms.
Morley understand that."

The resignation has created serious concerns about the fu ture of the
Commission and its capacity to accomplish the important,  historic
mandate given to it under the Indian Residential Schools  Settlement
Agreement. The churches, working closely with survivor grou ps, the
Assembly of First Nations, and the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatam i, remain
deeply committed to the potential of the Commission to  play an important
role in healing and reconciliation for residential school  survivors and
for all Canadians. "It is critical that all the parties  to the Agreement
agree on a process for appointing a successor as soon  as possible," said
Scott.

>For more information, please contact:

>Mary-Frances Denis
>Communications Officer
>The United Church of Canada
>416-231-7680 ext. 2016 (office)
>mdenis@united-church.ca

>--30--

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