Which Residential School Was Closest to You?

More than 500 children from 4 schools near the former site of the Shubenacadie Indian Residential School in Nova Scotia placed orange flags in the shape of a heart in honour of those who did not come home. APTN’s @angelharksen  was there to capture this photo.

This is Truth and Reconciliation Week and each day we've been challenged to ask ourselves questions and seek answers which might deepen our understanding of the shameful history of Indigenous assimilation and genocide is what is known as Canada in which several denominations were complicit, including the United Church of Canada. 

This question, above, from earlier in the week got me wondering about southern Ontario and the answer appears to be Brantford. Then I wondered about the number and locations of United Church Residential Schools (14 or 15, plus day schools) and proximity. One of the Day Schools was on the Alderville First Nation which is only an hour from Belleville. Bridge St. United Church, a congregation I served, had a strong connection with Alderville First Nation in the 19th century when it was still Methodist. 

Most UCC Residential Schools were in western provinces but there was the Mount Elgin school on what is now the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation No. 42, in Muncey, roughly 30 kilometres southwest of London, Ontario. The land occupied by the school also bordered on the reserve of the Oneida Nation of the Thames, from which it leased several hundred acres of pasture land. Mount Elgin was also known as the Muncey Institute.

I have written about these residential institutions many times yet I have never researched where they were, specifically. They were real places where terrible things happened to Indigenous children, many of whom are still alive and live with memories which haunt them. 

A class in penmanship at the Red Deer Indian School, Red Deer, Alta. 1914-19. Source: United Church of Canada archives.

Here is a description of the United Church material called The Children Remembered: Residential Schools Archives Project and a link, if you're interested in learning more:l Archives Project

Since Canadian Confederation, it was the policy of the government of Canada to provide education to Indigenous peoples through a system of church-run residential schools. The schools were part of the federal government’s goal to assimilate Indigenous people into Canadian society. The Methodist and Presbyterian churches and, by 1925, The United Church of Canada explicitly supported the goals of assimilation and Christianization.

The United Church and its predecessors managed schools in Ontario and Western Canada – the number ranging from thirteen in 1927 to four in 1966. The United Church also ran a number of day schools in First Nations communities. By 1969, the federal government took over the management or closed all of the United Church residential schools. The residential school system brought harm and cultural dislocation to children by removing them from their families and communities.

Survivors began to recount their experiences of cultural, physical, psychological, and sexual abuse in United Church residential schools and brought legal action against the different bodies responsible for the schools. In response, the General Council of the United Church delivered an apology to the Native Congregations in 1986 and the Moderator of the United Church offered an apology in 1998. Since 2003, the United Church has worked with other denominations and Survivor groups to promote a national truth-telling and healing process. On June 2008, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established in Canada.

https://united-church.ca/social-action/justice-initiatives/reconciliation-and-indigenous-justice/truth-and-reconciliation-commission

Mount Elgin Residential School, circa 1909. By the late 1800s, with enrolment at 86 students, overcrowding had become a major problem and the original school building (seen here behind the new four-storey residence) was in poor shape. In 1896, the Department of Indian Affairs, with funds appropriated from band accounts, constructed the new building in the foreground. UCCA, 1990.162P/1167.

Beyond the Storm of Eco-Anxiety

                                         Halifax, Nova Scotia in the aftermath of Hurricane Juan

 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.

                                         Matthew 6: 25-29 NRSVue

Eco-anxiety:

 extreme worry about current and future harm to the environment caused by human activity and climate change.

In late August of 2003 we left Nova Scotia and the congregation I was serving in downtown Halifax to return to Ontario. One of our daughters who was 18 at the time decided to stay and work after completing high school and while we were uncomfortable leaving her behind she was with the trusted family of her close friend.

Just a few weeks later -- 20 years ago today -- a massive storm swept across Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Maritimers are accustomed to "battening down the hatches" in the face of  extreme weather but Hurricane Juan, a tropical cyclone, was the fiercest storm in more than a hundred years with sustained winds of 170 kilometres an hour. 

The lovely treed street where Jocelyn was living was virtually impassable for a couple of days and they were without power for more than a week. A huge maple in front of what had been our home a month before was uprooted and leaned ominously against the house. Jocelyn was soon making her way to work in one of the few buildings with power because it was next to the police station, which was a priority for power restoration. I phoned the manager and scolded him because there was no concern that she and other employees were making their way along streets with downed power lines and forced to literally climb over trees. 

Twenty years later we are aware that Juan was the beginning of a new era of storms in Atlantic Canada. In 2019 we were in Newfoundland when the tail end of Hurricane Dorian moved through with intense winds and rain. Last year Hurricane Fiona created havoc in the province just after we were there and this year everyone was watching with concern as Hurricane Lee approached, ourselves included. 

During the week of Lee CBC Radio offered programming each day regarding the climate emergency and referred several times to eco-anxiety. Did that term exist 20 years ago? They spoke with folk in the Port aux Basque area who lost everything to the storm and others who live literally on the brink of disaster.

I regularly ponder how we are to respond as people of faith to the gloom and doom of  ecological catastrophe. In the two decades since Hurricane Juan we have been immersed in unprecedented change across the country. My brother was visiting his son in British Columbia two years ago when an atmospheric river (another new-to-me term) inundated the province. Friends and family elsewhere have dealt with unprecedented heat and wildfire smoke. 

We can't take a "what, me worry" approach simply because Jesus invited us to live beyond anxiety and fear. He also encouraged his disciples to pay attention to the signs of the times. It's worth noting that Jesus invited his followers to look to the flowers and birds as a way of addressing worry. One of the symptoms of eco-anxiety is solastalgia, grief and sadness over the loss to natural environments.

We can choose to be actively engaged in care of and advocacy for Creation rather than being paralyzed by eco-anxiety foreboding. We can  draw on the wisdom of Indigenous spirituality and stewardship. And whenever possible we can look to the beauty around us and express our gratitude. We can do so for our sakes, the well-being of generations to come, and as fidelity to the Creator and Creation. 

Politicizing the Landfills Search

 

Next Tuesday Manitobans go to the polls to elect a premier and the campaign got ugly and racist over the weekend. The Progressive Conservative party is currently in power but they are getting desperate as the NDP had moved into the lead in polls. On Saturday the PCs took out a full-page ad in the Winnipeg Free Press with their platform priorities. Number one was not searching the landfills for the remains of Marcedes Myran and Morgan Harris, two missing and presumed murdered Indigenous women. (see images below)

I have expressed my own ambivalence about the many calls to do a search, yet I also recognize the passion of Indigenous leaders to honour these women by proceeding, whatever the cost or likelihood of success. The United Church of Canada and other denominations have supported this desire as a matter of justice and a group of leaders including our Moderator,  travelled to Manitoba in solidarity. I am appalled that the Conservatives have named the choice not to search as some sort of policy priority. There is a recognition that anti-Indigenous racism is a serious problem in Manitoba and this ad appears to be appealing to a segment of society who might value the rejection of a search above other pressing issues. 

Chief Kyra Wilson of Long Plain First Nation, the home community for both Marcedes Myran and Morgan Harris, says the new PC strategy shows a lack of compassion.Chief Wilson suggested Stefanson's repeated focus on the potential cost and safety of a landfill search seems to preclude other ways to move forward: "We're not saying give us $184 million and we'll call it a day. What we're saying is come to the table, have a conversation with us, bring solutions forward. That is what she is not doing."

This Saturday is the National Day for Truth and Reconcilation in Canada and this tack by the PCs is an affront to Indigenous peoples in the province and everywhere in the country. 

I have included the United Church statement in a previous blog but here is the link, again, for any of you who missed it: https://united-church.ca/news/united-church-calls-manitoba-search-landfill

The Beaded Connection of Prayer

 

When we returned from Newfoundland last week we took an Uber to the home of a friend where our vehicle was parked. The driver of the immaculately clean Uber was silent for the first part of the trip, until I commented on the prayer beads hanging from the rear-view mirror (not the ones in the photo above). He thoughtfully explained the Muslim practice of pausing five times a day for prayer and the division of the one hundred beads into groups of 33.

 He conceded that the requests for rides are non-stop once he begins his day but he attempts to find a spot to pull over for prayer at the appropriate times. We had an exchange about the use of beads as a prayer aid in other religions, including the Roman Catholic rosary. I have long been impressed by the commitment of Muslims to be observant in prayer in a way that Christians would do well to emulate. 

Prayer Beads -- Ruth Mundy

Along the way I've led study groups on the subject of prayer and would sometimes invite Ruth, my wife, to explain the prayer beads she created which are personalized with pieces to represent different members of our family. She used them as a tangible form of prayer at a time when the weariness of family activity could be overwhelming by the end of the day. And when they became free-range teens the beads were a comfort in the wee hours.

I appreciated the gentle witness of our driver and its always helpful to have the reminders that pray matters, regardless of creed. 

Walk N Roll is Here to Stay

                                                              Quinte West Walk N Roll Team

This past Saturday an enthusiastic group of cyclists from Quinte West participated in an event called Walk N Roll for Refugees. This year 39 adults and children were involved, raising  $3,000 for this worthy cause. About half of them were from Trenton United Church and our daughter-in-law, Rebekah Kipp, was the coordinator. 

It's so impressive that this gang cheerfully made their way along a local trail and that kids are actively involved in supporting newcomers to this country. It was certainly an appropriate event given that Sunday was recognized as World Migrant and Refugee Day in many places. 

After worship on Sunday morning I chatted with a couple I didn't recognize and who told me that it was their first time at Trenton United. They added that they'd been away from church involvement for years but noticed the congregation was home to the warming centre, supported the LGBTQ2S community, has a community meal, as well as Walk N Roll. They figured that TUC would be a good place to reconnect. 

Needless to say, I agree -- wholeheartedly. 

Here is a description of the Walk N Roll initiative: 

 Every fall the AURA community finds different ways to raise funds to enable hundreds of Canadians to gain the knowledge, skills & strategies to welcome and support hundreds of refugees in their vitally important first year in Canada.

Some people bike, some people walk, some people bake or read or garden. Whatever you choose to do, you ensure:

That sponsors receive extensive training & mentorship to be well-prepared to help people who have endured great hardship.

That refugee newcomers are able to find housing & health care, learn English, enroll children in school, find employment & access community supports.

Whatever you do, you'll pave the way for a smoother journey for refugees-from hardship to belonging in Canada.

An Environmental Yom Kippur?

 Last evening marked the beginning of the 24 hours of the Jewish high holiday known as Yom Kippur. It is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar and concludes a 10-day period known as the “Days of Awe” that begins with the Jewish New Year, which is called Rosh Hashanah.

According to a CNN 'splainer of Yom Kippur: 

Jews around the world are to face their misdeeds and sins over the year through worship and prayer so that they may atone for their wrongdoings. With fear and wonder in facing God’s judgment, Jews seek forgiveness. In doing so, people are called to self-reflect on their failings and flaws.

No matter how you spend the day, it’s a time to atone in your own way, whether in a synagogue or at home. Synagogues hold religious services throughout the day for practicing Jews to come pray introspectively, either asking for forgiveness or expressing regret of sins committed in the past year. Once you atone, it’s thought to be starting the Jewish new year with a “clean slate,” absolved of past transgressions.

I've noticed that there are increasing efforts to connect Yom Kippur with environmental justice, our need to atone for our degradation of the planet and an invitation to "fast" from mindless over-consumption. This is sometimes called "green repentance" or "environmental repentance."

Those of us who are Christians can express our respect and solidarity with Jews who are observing Yom Kippur today. And as we make our way through Creation Time we can ask how we might atone for our environmental sins against the Creator, the wrong-doing which affects us all, regardless of religion. 

Jonah Revived

 

One of the lectionary readings today is from the tiny book called Jonah in the Hebrew scriptures. The Common Lectionary is a schedule of scripture passages which takes liturgical congregations through the books of the bible over the course of three years. It is imperfect yet it invites a discipline which I found helpful through decades of congregational worship. I did venture along other scriptural paths at times but following the seasons of the church year was meaningful. 

Some of the books get short shrift and one of them is Jonah, a curious parable only a couple of pages in length about a reluctant and whiny prophet who ends up being a bellyache in more ways than one.  Jonah doesn't want to preach repentance to the city of Nineveh, even though the citizens do eventually turn from from their sinful ways. He travels by ship and ends up being what Newfoundlanders used to call a "jinker: A person (on a vessel) bringing bad luck; a Jonah." (dictionary of Newfoundland English). 

You know how it unfolds: Jonah is thrown overboard and ends up in the belly of a large fish and after three days and nights is spewed him out again. He travelled to Nineveh, did his preachin', is still grumpy, and ends up under a shade plant which is wilted by wind and sun. Okay, a story that sounds like a weird dream may not warrant much lectionary action. 

Some years ago I was in Santa Fe New Mexico related to study leave and came upon the work of a linocut printmaker named Jack McCarthy in a museum shop. He improbably does both erotic and religious images and I was quite taken by the edgy whimsicality of his images. He created his own Jonah Redux: the book of Jonah according to Jack (redux means revived). I purchased one book illustration print on the spot and later corresponded with him. When I bought another he actually shipped the entire book to me, on spec, but I declined buying it even though it's brilliant, and sent it back. 

One of the pieces I purchased is a tad rude but I've shown it to bible study groups over the years and to my relief participants found it amusing, even-laugh-out loud funny. 

Is there a Creation Time message in the story of Jonah? It's a stretch, although there is a lot about the natural world in this bizarre parable. 

The Tide and Creationtide

                                                      Change Islands, Newfoundland -- Ruth Mundy

When the waters saw you, O God,

    when the waters saw you, they were afraid;
    the very deep trembled.
17 The clouds poured out water;
    the skies thundered;
    your arrows flashed on every side.
18 The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind;
    your lightnings lit up the world;
    the earth trembled and shook.
19 Your way was through the sea,
    your path through the mighty waters,
    yet your footprints were unseen.
20 

                   Psalm 77: 16-19 NRSVue 

1 I feel the winds of God today; today my sail I lift,

though heavy oft with drenching spray and torn with many a rift;

if hope but light the water's crest, and Christ my bark will use,

I'll seek the seas at his behest, and brave another cruise.

                            Voices United 625

We are a bit crazy when it comes to wind and tides, revelling in the power of the sea. So, this past Monday, the day of my pre-posted Creationtide blog entry -- coincidentally -- we headed out to a trail on Change Islands, Newfoundland, to check out the aftermath of Hurricane Lee. Even though there were no signficant effects on the east side of the province the winds were in the 50 to 80 kilometre per hour range and there was a "sea on" to use the Newfoundland vernacular. 

The Squid Jigger trail is a roller coaster, up to headlands, down to coves, and at one spot we were incredibly close to an otter which was feeding on a lobster, a meaningful "I-thou" moment as it stared at us from only a few metres away. 

On the heights we got our fill of crashing waves and managed to stay upright in the midst of buffeting gusts, what Newfoundlanders once called a faffering wind. On our return walk we got a bit of a surprise as the tide had risen and the wind increased. Two portions of the trail at the end of different coves had become submerged, something we'd never experienced on this trail before. 

To say it was the "perfect storm" of tide and storm surge would be an exaggeration but it required two old-timers to do some thrashing about in the tuckamore to keep our feet and ankles dry. We could laugh about it as we made our way through the thick white spruce. 

It was a heavenly coincidence given my declared appreciation of the Anglican term, Creationtide. As it happened, the lectionary psalm for the day, Psalm 77, contained the verses I included above. Were we following in the Creator's footsteps as we muddled about in the thicket? It sure didn't feel like it, but the thought does redeem those few minutes of problem-solving!

                                                     Change Islands, Newfoundland -- Ruth Mundy

The Greenbelt & the Apology

                                                                   from The Narwhal

1 Touch the earth lightly, use the earth gently,

nourish the life of the world in our care:

gift of great wonder, ours to surrender,

trust for the children tomorrow will bear.

2 We who endanger, who create hunger,

agents of death for all creatures that live,

we who would foster clouds of disaster,

God of our planet, forestall and forgive!

Voices United 307

“I made a promise to you that I wouldn’t touch the Greenbelt. I broke that promise. And for that I am very, very sorry...“It was a wrong decision. We’re putting this land back in the Greenbelt.”

Premier Doug Ford September 21, 2023

 Over the course of 30 hours we left the relative solitude of Change Islands, Newfoundland (population 150), flew out of Gander, and arrived in Toronto, fourth largest city in North America, just around rush hour yesterday. From the caribou caution sign on the road to the ferry to the multi-lanes of the 407, just like that.

On our way back to Belleville we heard the somewhat surprising news that the Ontario government had reversed course on its wretched decision to open up Greenbelt land in the south of the province, supposedly to expedite building much needed housing. Not only did municipalities insist that this wasn't necessary, it was a direct contradiction of an election promise by Premier Doug Ford to maintain the boundaries of the Greenbelt. Both the provincial auditor general and the integrity comissioner produced scathing reports about the flipflop and the sketchy deals to make this land available to developers. 

The result was that two cabinet ministers and two parliamentary assistants resigned because of the opaque "process", although Ford insisted that the decision was final. And then it wasn't.

While the premier looked contrite as he made his apology, so does just about everyone caught with a hand in the cookie jar. This is damage control as polls show that the majority of Ontarians feel that what has transpired is crooked and the government's popularity has plummeted. Let's remember that at one point Ford called the Greenbelt a "scam." 

All those who maintained the pressure and participated in rallies should be heartened by this outcome, including communities of faith which joined the cause. As you may have read in this blog, our Trenton United Church congregation made lawn signs available which decried the decision of the Ford government. 

There needs to be further accountability and we need to remember that this government has gutted support for conservation authorities. It also plans to build a major highway through prime farmland much of which has been purchased by developers. 

I've taken down our lawn sign but I'm not done yet. As Groundlings who honour the Creator we must be vigilant. 

3 Let there be greening, birth from the burning,

water that blesses and air that is sweet,

health in God's garden, hope in God's children,

regeneration that peace will complete.

4 God of all living, God of all loving,

God of the seedling, the snow and the sun,

teach us, deflect us, Christ reconnect us,

using us gently and making us one.

Voices United 307

                                                                            from The Narwhal 

Creationtide

 

I've noted the different names for this period in the liturgical year, between September 1st and October 4th. They include Season of Creation (ecumenical) Creation Time (United Church & others) and Creationtide (Anglicans.) I like the latter the best because the tide is the twice daily inhalation and exhalation of our oceans and seas. It is one of the manifold wonders of our planetary home.

When we lived in the province of Nova Scotia we spent time along the Bay of Fundy where the tides are so great that they run like powerful rivers and the rise and fall can be 16 metres, the equivalent of a four-storey building. We kayaked on the Bay of Fundy from Grand Manan Island, in New Brunswick and we had to be mindful of the force of the water. We also paddled around the rocks, below, and ended up wading through deep mud to shore when we misjudged the ebb. 

Earlier this year we were in Israel and spent time along the Mediterranean Sea where there is virtually no tide because of the narrow opening the Straits of Gibraltar. Tides also fluctuate in storms and at a full moon. It's all so wonderful and mysterious, explainable yet incomprehensible.

We are experiencing the tides once again, this time on an island off the Northeast shore of Newfoundland. The tides are modest here, but noticeable, and we pay attention. Creationtide calls us to pay attention to the breath of the planet, and to cherish all that God has brought into being. 

It will be a few days before I check in again, so love the Earth, day by day. Celebrate, pray, act, commit!

The Resurrection of Gary Larson?

 

Word is that the legendary Gary Larson, mad creative genius behind the Far Side comic, recently offered three new cartoons, the first since he retired nearly 30 years ago. 

Larson's religious-themed cartoons were as good as anything else he conjured up in his wonderfully twisted mind. I can only hope and pray that Larson, now 73, is back, even if only from time to time. 

The Message of the Psalms in a Time of Disruption

 

When a group of us studied the psalms earlier this year I drew upon a number of books in my personal library yet I wish I'd had access to one more that I wasn't aware of. It is William P. Brown's Deep Calls to Deep: The Psalms in Dialogue and Disruption. I have been an admirer of Presbyterian ordained minister and professor Bill Brown for many years. His books about scripture and the environment are both insightful and accessible. I had the opportunity to listen to Dr. Brown and chat with him over lunch while attending a Presbyterians for Earth Care conference in Colorado a while ago.

As the title suggests, Brown addresses the polarization in his country, the United States of America, yet it seems the themes would be worthwhile to explore here in Canada and other countries where respectful dialogue has been replaced by strident declamation. Associate Professor Nyasha Junior from the University of Toronto describes Brown's book this way: 

The Psalms can help us during a time of disruption and division. Deep Calls to Deep demonstrates a new and generative way of reading the Bible, which looks for differences among texts to engage in dialogue over critical issues that are not only biblical but also are relevant to our contemporary crises. 

Bill Brown explores uncharted territory in the Bible with a particular focus on the Psalms, the most diverse book of the Bible. By taking his cue from Martin Luther, Brown explores how the "little bible" (the Psalter) engages the larger Hebrew Bible in dialogue, specifically how the Psalms counter, complement, reconstrue, and transform biblical traditions and themes across the Hebrew canon, from creation and law to justice and wisdom. 

In this deep study of the Psalms, Brown asks: - What is humanity's place and role in creation? - What makes for a credible leader? - What is "law and order"? - What is the role of wisdom in the life of faith? - What is the shape of justice in a society polarized by power and fear? 

These and other questions, such as a chapter that offers a fresh look at the authority of Scripture, are hosted by the Psalms with the aim of prompting dialogue, the kind of dialogue that is most needed in a time of deep division and disruption.

Okay, I'll concede that I'm a nerd, but I would love to be in conversation about these themes. It does seem that our world desperately needs what Deep Calls to Deep has to offer.

Down Syndrome and Amazing Grace

 

                     Adam Bauld works on his latest painting in his Halifax home. (Robert Short/CBC)

I've mentioned that when I was considering a call to my final congregation before retirement we attended worship on a weekend away from the pulpit. I was impressed by the inclusion of two girls who live with Down Syndrome. It was clear that they were part of congregational life and we discovered later that they have an older brother with Downs. The older of the now young women loved it when we sang Amazing Grace because her name is Grace and she knows that she is amazing. 

Their adoptive parents have been exceptional in involving them in a range of activities as well as pursuing advanced education and employment opportunities. I see them around town from time to time and although the son is now well into his thirties he usually greets me with a hug. He is a happy reminder that persons with Down Syndrome are living much longer than in the past. A CBC piece explains:

Laura LaChance, the executive director of the Canadian Down Syndrome Society, says evidence shows an extraordingary growith in life expectancy over the last few decades.

"The research is showing us that life expectancy has more than doubled in the last generation, and where in the early 1980s you might expect a life expectancy of 25 years, now 60 is the average," she says. 

Many people who have Down syndrome also have a heart defect. In the past, it went undiagnosed and could cause death in infants and children. Today in Canada, more people are diagnosed early on and the condition is treated. 

In the past, Canadians with intellectual disabilities often were compelled to live in large institutions from a young age. LaChance thinks the move to community and family living over the last 40 years has also led to longer and happier lives. 

This is an example of a positive advancement in science. On the other side, screening in the womb can identify Down and parents may chose not to continue with a pregnancy. This is being flagged as unethical and the irony is that while those with Down Syndrome are living longer the screening could lead to the end of Down persons in society. I can say from the three in our congregation, this would be a tremendous loss. 

Adam Bauld (above) is passionate about his paintings. 

"These paintings over here are like collage, a camp, abstract, a religious painting over there about Calvary and the Cross of Christ," he says during a tour of his work.

He says some of his friends have Down syndrome and some don't. "My experience is that God created every person in His image, whether it's Down syndrome or not Down syndrome," he says. 

Amen. 

                      Brittany Bennett works on a new project at L'Arche Homefires in Wolfville. (CBC)

Allies with LGBTQ2S+ People & Issues

Not long ago the Canadian government issued a travel warning to LBGTQ2S+  travellers to the United States given some of the regressive laws being passed in jursidictions to our south. Some here in Canada have woofed that this is an unnecessary and provocative step. Yet when I heard this I thought of an active member of the congregation I served before retiring who was an American. He shared that when he and his husband returned to the States o visit family there were careful to book rooms with twin beds on their route, knowing the prejudices which exist. He knew he could never live there again with a sense of freedom. 

We may feel that here in Canada we are more open and our laws are more progressive. Just the same, there is a gap between what Canadians say about their support and what they do in their daily lives.  

This from Global News: 

While Canadians broadly support LGBTQ2S+ people and issues, they are less likely the engage in behaviours that show true allyship for the community, new polling conducted for Global News has found.

The majority of Canadians – 78 per cent – believe transgender people should be protected from discrimination in employment, housing and access to businesses. Seventy-four per cent believe that same-sex couples should have the same rights to adopt children as straight couples. However, the latest polling, conducted by Ipsos, found only a dismal one-in-10 consider themselves to be an active ally to the queer community.

Where do we become allies to thecommunity? How about our communities of faith? Readers will know that I'm impressed that our congregation, Trenton United is actively supportive of LGBTQ2S+ persons and issues, including taking part in the June Parade and having a Pride in the Park booth. Beyond this we can be mindful of our circles of friends and support within our families for those who are often dealing with prejudices and a lack of acceptance. We are grateful that our Trenton grandchildren attend a Roman Catholic school which embraces its LGBTQ2S+ students and is active in education. 

Should we be smug here in Canada? Nope, but we can be aware and vigilant about being inclusive in our society and everyday lives. 

More About the Sequel to Laudato Si

Pope Francis joins others in holding a banner during an audience at the Vatican June 5, 2023, with the organizers of the Green & Blue Festival. The banner calls for financing a "loss and damage" fund that was agreed upon at the COP27 U.N. climate conference in 2022. The fund would seek to provide financial assistance to nations most vulnerable and impacted by the effects of climate change. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

Recently I shared that Pope Francis announced that he would add to his magisterial environmental encyclical, Laudato Si, sometime this Fall. That title can be translated "praise be to you" in honour of the Canticle of the Sun, penned by his namesake, Francis of Assisi. Fittingly, Pope Francis announced on the eve of the ecumenical Season of Creation that this new document will be released on October 4th, the final day of  Creation Time and the Feast of St. Francis. 

Here is a portion of a news release from Earthbeat, a project of the National Catholic Reporter. 

Pope Francis will release a follow-up document on the environment on Oct. 4, providing an update to his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si', On Care for Our Common Home" — a landmark papal letter that offered a rallying cry for global action in the fight against climate change. 

Francis said the new document is an effort to help "put an end to the senseless war against our common home" and comes after a summer of record breaking rising temperatures, wildfires and storms.

"It is a terrible world war," he lamented. 

As an admirer of Laudato Si I look forward to this "sequel." 

Pondering The Postcard

 

The Postcard is a gripping, at times horrifying, moving novel by French author Anne Berest. It was written in 2021 and released in translation earlier this year. It is the story of members of a Jewish family across several generations living in a number of countries, including Russia, Poland, Czechoslavakia, Israel, and France. What makes it truly remarkable is that while the copyright page disclaimer describes this as a work of fiction, it is actually factually based on Anne Berest's relatives and the research of her mother and Berest herself. The image on the cover is a photograph of her great-aunt, a key figure in this drama.

The postcard of the title is an anonymous piece of correspondence which mysteriously arrives with a postmark dated years after it is written and an upside-down stamp. In block letters there are the names of the maternal and paternal great-grandparents who perished, and nothing more. 

I came close to abandoning the book partway along because the different generations are forced to address anti-semiticism in various settings and the family is changed forever because of the Holocaust. Although they are living in France when World War II begins the Nazis are thorough in their persecution in occupied countries and there is the complicity of the Vichy government and locals who are hostile toward Jews.

There is so much to digest in this oft-times grim drama, not the least of which are the efforts of this particular family to assimiliate, including giving up Jewish religious practice and changing names. Yet this doesn't matter to those bent on Jewish annihilation -- Jews are Jews. 

The novel also explores the apprehension of Jews, including the writer's grandmother and mother, throughout Europe following the war, knowing that they were often betrayed by neighbours and governments. In an NPR interview Berest observes:

 You have to understand the silence of the Jews in France after the Second World War, because after the war, they were afraid to speak out, because one must bear in mind that they were still living in fear because that fear was so ancient in Europe. They thought that the denunciations could start again. My grandmother, after the war, baptized my mother in a church to protect her. And many Jews did the same in France after the war. So in the book, I give the example of one of my friends whose parents changed their Jewish names to French names in the mid-'60s. It's incredible to think about it. It was the mid-'60s in France, and Jews wanted to change their names because they'd always say it can happen again.

There is a profound scene in the book when Anne, approaching age 40, attends a Passover Seder for the first time in her life. She does so with apprehension because of her ignorance about this ritual meal in the company of people who know that she is Jewish. It does become awkward yet she finds the experience to be rich with a meaning of which she has been deprived. 

The ending of the novel is extraordinary to the point of stretching credibility, yet it is based on fact. I encourage you to gird up your loins and read the award-winning The Postcard.