Posted on 06/30/2021 6:14:34 PM PDT by marshmallow
Two Catholic churches in the same region of British Columbia burned down in suspicious circumstances early Monday morning.
“On behalf of The Diocese of Nelson, I am very saddened by the recent fires that destroyed two Catholic churches – Sacred Heart Mission at Penticton Indian Band and St. Gregory Mission at Osoyoos Indian Band – and for the hurt that it has caused,” Bishop Gregory J. Bittman of Nelson said June 23.
“For many years, our priests have been welcomed to minister in these mission churches and it is our hope that this ministry will continue. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the fires and we are grateful that no one died or was physically injured,” he said.
The churches, located in the southern Okanagan region of British Columbia, served some indigenous First Nations families, but there are concerns the fires could have been targeted attacks.
Investigators are considering whether arson caused the attacks. Possible motives could include someone targeting the Indigenous communities, or someone angry at the Catholic Church after the discovery of the undocumented graves of 215 Indigenous children at the grounds of a former Catholic-run residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia.
Penticton Indian Band Chief Greg Gabriel spoke at the burned remains of Sacred Heart Mission Church, Parksville Qualicum Beach News reported.
“This church has been here since 1911. It was a fixture in our community,” he said June 21. “Many in our community were members and involved in services. Some of our elders are attached to the church and have come here today very sad. They are hurting but also they understand.”
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicnewsagency.com ...
What are they investigating? Who to send fhe Georgia Cross to?
Another Catholic church was burned in Edmonton. This was a coordinated act of hate against Catholics.
Any Seattle BLM-Antifers do any traveling north lately?
Border is closed.
I do have one observation- Wouldn't these Catholic schools have had their own graveyards in their day, and why are "unmarked" graves causing such anger now? Didn't Canada go through an influenza outbreak? Unmarked graves do not indicate harm was done to these children on purpose.
True. I have 2 great-great-great(?)-uncles who died at Vicksburg and they were buried in a common grave because there were too many to do bury individually.
Exactly correct. In the case of the second school, the cemetery was in operation ~20 years before the school was even founded.
Also, the graves are unmarked now. It is not at all clear that they were originally unmarked, only that the markers and records have been lost.
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