Charges against priest further erode relationship between Roman Catholic church and First Nations – CBC

Jun 02, 2023

Communities re-examining their relationship with the church in wake of allegations

Once a devout Catholic, Geraldine Shingoose cut ties with the church more than a decade ago.

The Saulteaux woman from Tootinaowaziibeeng First Nation is a residential school survivor. She understands why another Manitoba First Nation wants to end its relationship with the church in the wake of allegations against a priest in the community.

“It triggered me, my own abuse,” Shingoose said. “It brought out that history of the Catholic church and what they did on Indigenous nations, Indigenous children in the residential schools.”

Arul Savari, 48, is charged with five offences, including sexual assault, luring a child and forcible confinement. RCMP said the charges stem from a report they received that an eight-year-old girl was touched inappropriately on May 27 and then ordered not to leave while alone with Savari at the Roman Catholic church in Little Grand Rapids First Nation, about 265 kiometres northeast of Winnipeg.

Read More: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/first-nations-roman-catholic-priest-sexual-assault-1.6861972