By Moira Warburton

VANCOUVER (Reuters) – The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops on Friday officially apologized for their role in the country’s notorious residential school system for the first time, after refusing to do so for years despite public pressure.

On Friday, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops released an apology. It also apologized unambiguously for all Catholic entities involved in running the schools.

Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Canadian national assembly of Canadian bishops, is officially recognized by the Catholic Church. It also forms part of an international network of conferences.

Canada’s residential school system was established in 1831 and continued until 1996. The program separated native children from their families and subjected them to sexual and physical abuse. This is what Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission termed “cultural genocide”.

Reuters spoke to survivors who described a constant hunger and loneliness. Schools were under threat of and often used force.

It was stated that “some members of the Catholic community committed grave abuses; psychological, spiritual, cultural and sexual.”

We regretfully recognize the ongoing and historical trauma, as well as the suffering and difficulties that Indigenous Peoples continue to face.

The Catholic Church, the pope, and even the Presbyterian, United, churches have yet to apologize for the church’s actions, in contrast with the Anglican, Presbyterian, and United churches.

After hundreds of graves of Indigenous children found at former Residential Schools across Canada, outrage over the absence of an apology spread quickly earlier in the year.