The Catholic Church in Aotearoa has finally responded to Matthew Tukaki’s call for an apology from the Pope. Te Runanga o Te Hahi Katorika ki Aotearoa chair Tui Cadigan said that she is open to a discussion on the issue.
"As Kaiwhakahaere of Te Rūnanga o Te Hahi Katorika o Aotearoa, l have not been asked by the New Zealand Māori Council for an opinion from Te Rūnanga regarding any apology being sought by executive director Matthew Tukaki from His Holiness Pope Francis over colonisation of Aotearoa," explains to NZ Catholic.
However, Sister Cadigan’s personal thoughts are that any Māori is free to make such a petition.
Its time for the Vatican to be held accountable - Doctrine of DiscoveryIts time to hold the Vatican and the Church to account ... PLEASE SHARE The Doctrine of Discovery is a little nown document signed by a controversial pope in 1493 that would ultimately give European monarchs and their rperesenatives permission to take lands from first nations peoples because they were not Christian. In other words the Vatican gave permission for what would unfold in the decades after and for many hundreds of years - the taking of land, the murder of tens of millions, the expuning of culture and language - all under the banner of the Doctrine of Discovery. Until a few weeks ago, as the anniversary of British explorer James Cook arrival into New Zealand, many Maori and New Zealanders would not have known of its existance - but countless others did - first nations peoples from across the globe. For many years they have been fightng for justice and an apology - today the New Zealand Maori Council joins that fight alongside our Indigenous and first nations brothers and sisters for an accounting of the Vatican for what was a history of generational trauma going back many hundreds of years - and continuing to this day. I have written today to Pope Francis asking for a meeting - a meeting to discuss an apology, a meeting to acknowledge the sins of their father that were visited upon our people. Sign the petition and have your voice heard: http://chng.it/SBJTvGwCXg Ngaio Te Ua Mihingarangi Forbes First Nations Say ENOUGH! Eru Rerekura Vanessa Lee Willie Jackson Marise Lant First Nations Media Australia Gavin Brown Joe Williams Rino Tirikatene Paul Whatuira Rangi McLean Yvonne Tahi Gage Catholic News Agency Catholic Church Canadians in Support of First Nations Koori Radio 93.7FM Native american Deanna Ledoux Roimata Minhinnick RNZ CNN International Stan Walker Stan Walker Marama Parore Michael Naera Aboriginal News - Australia Aboriginal and Tribal Nation News Radio Ngati Porou Te Rae The Catholic TV Network First Nation Indigenous Warriors NPR NPR Morning Edition Newstalk World Indigenous News (WIN) Indigenous News. Catholic News Agency Vatican News Annette Sykes Claudette Hauiti Waatea News Irirangi Waatea Free Hawaii - Independence For Hawaii Hawaiian Sovereignty Movement Rosebud Sioux Tribe Communications @Brent Reihana @Verna Ohia-Gate Debbie Ngarewa-Packer
Posted by Matthew Tukaki on Saturday, November 9, 2019
Two months ago, Matthew Tukaki issued an online call for an apology from the Vatican where he asserts that Pope Alexanders VI 1493 Papal Bull entitled Inter Caetera gave rise to the Doctrine of Discovery. Tukaki further explains:
“It is time for an accounting. An accounting of the Vatican to ensure that this document is expunged, is reinterpreted and an apology issued to first nations people across the world.
“It required nothing more than a European representative of a European monarch to plant a flag or to claim land where otherwise non-Christian people may have inhabited it.
“If they were non-Christian, they didn’t count.”
Tukaki noted the effect that this doctrine had on the world, and what must be done going forward.
“What we have seen is the intergenerational trauma of First Nations people around the world."
Though this empowered the Spanish to proceed with the conquest of the Americas, it must be noted, that contrary to popular belief, this doctrine was not invoked here in Aotearoa. This is why Britain engaged with our ancestors to sign the Treaty of Waitangi.
Tukaki started an online petition which so far has gathered 180 signatures.