CHURCHES FACE FINANCIAL DISASTER FROM SEXUAL-ABUSE LAWSUITS
Apr 12th, 1999 • Posted in: NewsSpecial to Newsline from Canadian correspondent Errol P. Mendes
OTTAWA
Canadian native groups are launching lawsuits against the Christian churches that ran residential schools for Indian children, where it was alleged that sexual and physical abuse took place.
A spokesman for the Canadian Catholic Bishops said it was not unrealistic that many dioceses would go bankrupt if the claims were successful. The Catholic churches face at least 700 lawsuits.
A total of 1,800 suits by former students are expected to be filed against the Catholic, Anglican, and United Churches, along with the federal government.
The Canadian federal government set up the schools but contracted out their operation to the churches with the aim of assimilating native children into European culture.
Eager to avoid the spectacle of churches going bankrupt, the federal government, native groups, and the churches are seeking alternative dispute resolution models to work out the claims.
Print This Story
Email This Story








