Archbishop Weisgerber should reject the Order of Canada

Archbishop V. James Weisgerber

On December 30, 2013, it was officially announced that the former Archbishop V. James Weisgerber has been appointed as Officer of the Order of Canada. He receives the award "for his work as a champion of reconciliation and social justice, promoting deeper understanding between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people." A special government ceremony will be held where Archbishop Weisgerber and other honored guests will accept the insignia from the Governor General of Canada David Johnson.

Archbishop Weisgerber has served as General Secretary and president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. From 1996 to 2000, he was Bishop of Saskatoon and after that he served as Archbishop of Winnipeg from 2000 to 2013.

As president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbsihop Weisgerber helped to organize a group to represent the Assembly of First Nations and the Catholic Church in Canada. They were granted a special audience with Pope Benedict XVI on April 29, 2009. During the meeting, the Holy Father said that he was sorry for the suffering caused by "the deplorable conduct of some members of the Church" in their work and management of past Indian Residential Schools.  (more...)

Archbishop Weisgerber should reject the Order of Canada