Achi news desk-
A boarding school survivor is leading legal proceedings against the Catholic Church and one of its priests.
It stems from comments made by the alleged priest during a sermon describing evidence of unmarked graves as “lies” and “manipulation.”
On Monday, a judge ruled that the proposed district court case could go ahead despite efforts by lawyers representing the Edmonton archdiocese and a religious order to strike it down.
Many tears, smiles and hugs came to that decision from elder Sphenia Jones, who leads the case.
About a dozen of Jones’ family and supporters gathered on Monday to support the residential school survivors and the lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleges that priest Marcin Mironiuk said native children died of natural causes and questions the authenticity of unmarked graves during a 2021 mass.
It sparked backlash and protests at the time.
The archdiocese did not comment on Monday but apologized at the time and placed the priest on indefinite administrative leave.
However, the website of a church in Brampton, Ont., says the priest works there now.
Lawyers behind the class action say boarding school denial is a growing phenomenon that further traumatizes survivors.
Jones was forced to go to Edmonton’s old boarding school when she was 11 years old and says that images of what she saw still haunt her at 80 years old.
Lawyers representing the church argued that the comments were made in Polish and were misinterpreted, and do not meet the criteria of a class action lawsuit — such as referring to Jones directly.
The judge disagreed and said he could go ahead and also awarded compensation to Jones for what he spent fighting the application to have it removed.
