Ottawa - The United Church of Canada has issued an unequivocal apology to native Canadians who were physically and sexually abused at church-operated residential schools.
"I am here to speak the words many people have wanted to hear for a long time," the Rt Rev Bill Phipps, the moderator of the church, said. "I apologise for the pain and suffering our church's involvement in the Indian residential school system has caused. We are aware of some of the damage that this cruel and ill-conceived system of assimilation has perpetrated on Canada's First Nations. We are truly and humbly sorry."