The Roman Catholic Diocese of Corner Brook and Labrador says it does not support the recent actions of a priest in Natuashish who told an Innu addictions counsellor in the community that some of the practices used in their healing lodge were “evil”.
Innu addictions counsellor Christine Poker filed a complaint with the Diocese after the local priest took exception to healing practices they used, that included communicating with ancestors.
He called Poker to let her know.
She says he told her it is not acceptable to talk to dead people, and claimed it went against the Church.
Poker says the call shocked and angered her, but he went a step further, raising the matter during a sermon the following Sunday.
She says he named her and praised the good work being done by the Healing Lodge, but repeated that talking to the dead was “evil.”
Bishop Bart van Roijen of the Diocese of Corner Brook and Labrador says the priest was not speaking on behalf of the Church and that what he said does not reflect the Church’s position.
He says not only were the priest’s actions unacceptable and opposite to their Reconciliation efforts, but raising the matter in his sermon was “unprofessional.”
The Bishop says the priest will be spoken to, and he will not be returning to the Innu community.
Meanwhile, the former Conservative MP for Labrador, Peter Penashue, is weighing in on the matter.
He tweeted that he had received a release of Poker’s story, and finds it “disturbing”.
He says “the attitudes of the Roman Catholic have not changed, at least not on the local level.”
I received the Press Release from Christine Poker from Natuashish Labrador for publication and in my view it is very disturbing. The attitudes of the Roman Catholic has not changed at least not on the local level. It will be interesting to hear from the Bishop for Labrador. pic.twitter.com/ikpmDLNsi5
— Peter Penashue (@PeterPenashue) October 1, 2021