George Valin has spent his whole adult life fighting for justice in this country and this is an issue he can't ignore.
Though he retired in 2019, the North Bay native, who served as a judge on the Ontario Superior Court of Justice is still working to try and make things right.
Valin is a longtime Catholic and has been working alongside Maurice Switzer, who is a citizen of the Mississaugas of Alderville First Nations and serves on the Reconciliation Advisory Committee of the Ontario Human Rights Commission.
Together, they have created a petition on Change.org that has received more than 53,000 signatures in support of an apology from Pope Francis over the tragedy at residential schools in Canada.
Valin says there was a plan set up by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops for Indigenous leaders to travel to Rome to meet with the Pope. That idea did not sit well with Valin.
"I was shocked and outraged as a Catholic," he said bluntly.
"It is beyond words why anyone who is deserving of an apology should be forced to travel across the ocean to beg for it. I find it difficult to muster civil words to express my dismay at this.
"Maurice and I are concerned the Indigenous leaders are being led down a blind alley. The Pope may apologize when they are there. He might do that. He is a pretty empathic human being. But the indigenous people want that apology in Canada, on their turf, on their soil. They are entitled to it."
Switzer and Valin strongly believe the Pope needs to make that apology here, and not in Rome.
"It is interesting that the Church is showing some reluctancy in this area," noted Switzer.
"The government of Canada has made an apology. It seems like everyone is recognizing this except the one institution that played one of the major roles in this.
"I have been privileged to contribute to what I think is a real act of reconciliation on the part of Justice Valin and the fact that the petition has attracted that many signatures and there was a poll that I think 80 per cent of Canadians believe the Pope should apologize in Canada."
Valin says the only way a trip to Canada by the Pope occurs is if the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) sent him the invitation. He believes there are many reasons why the Bishops feel reluctant to invite the Pope to come to Canada.
"They all relate to cost," notes Valin.
"These visits are not cheap, and the costs required for those are significant and very expensive."
Valin notes that each bishop gets a vote on the issue. He says some Diocese are not wealthy and there are claims that some are still paying for the last Canadian Pope's visit back in 2002 for World Youth Day.
"I greatly feel if you are a Bishop in a Diocese where no Catholic operated residential school was located, they are adopting the position that it did not happen in my backyard and not my problem," argues Valin.
Valin and Switzer are urging the CCCB to pass a resolution at their plenary this September inviting the Pope to Canada.
"Whether or not that motion is passed will be a test of the good faith of the Bishops," said Valin.
Petition: Call for Papal Apology for Residential School Abuses
Both Switzer and Valin hope this petition, and their hard work, will force the Church to listen.
"I was baptized a Catholic and it would have been easy to walk away from the Church over this and other issues that have arisen over the past few years. I believe the Catholic church can be better than it is so if bishops were to invite the Pope and he came to Canada I would be very pleased because I have no doubt that once he gets here he will apologize, and I would look forward to brighter days for the Church," said Valin.
Switzer believes it is truly and spiritually, the right thing for the Pope to do.
"There are some who believe, and I am one of them, that the souls of those little children will not rest until there is this acknowledgment."
"I believe the Pope is a good man with a good heart who is probably waiting with bated breath for the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops to do the right thing and invite him. His words would mean so much so I am hopeful this can and will happen, move on and make Canada even better."
