> Churches Apologize For Harming
> Cherokees
>
>
>Four of the 30 or more Christian Churches located on the Eastern
>Cherokee Indian Reservation in North Carolina are planning to issue a
>formal apology to the Cherokee people for forcing them to give up their
>native culture, language, and spirituality in an attempt by the
>government to eradicate ancient wisdom so the land could be stolen.
>
>
>In 1992, many churches and other organizations issued apologies to
>American Indians in observance of the 500th year anniversary of the
>arrival of Columbus, which ushered in the age of genocide. And each year
>since has seen more and more groups take responsibility for the past
>wrongs and make at least some small token of atonement.
>
>
>Non-Indian organizers of the event believe the recognition of past and
>current wrongs done to the People by white Christians is necessary
>because the churches still aren't respecting native spirituality and the
>great wisdom of the ancients that has
>endured despite all out attempts to
>eradicate it.
>
>
>I find it interesting that while many people of Cherokee descent are
>fervently trying to relearn the old ways and return to the ancient
>spiritual path of our grandparents, tribal leaders and many members
>don't seem to think any wrongs had been done and have expressed surprise
>that the 4 churches are making this gesture. The majority of the 13,000
>enrolled members of the Nation are Christians.
>
>
>Reverend Bo Parris of Big Cove Baptist Church expressed much of the
>native sentiment when he stated that the event was a big waste of time
>as "there was nothing to apologize for."
>
>
>Nevertheless, the apology will take place Sept. 21 at the Cherokee Youth
>Center.
>
>
>The four churches planning to participate in the Day of Healing and
>Reconciliation are the Cherokee United Methodist Church, Living Waters
>Lutheran Church, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church and the Cherokee
>Church of the Nazarene. It is hoped by organizers that other churches
>will join the effort. But according to one Baptist minister, none of the
>21 Baptist churches on the reservation will participate.
>
>
>Makes you wonder, doesn't it.
>
>
>On another religious note.......
>
>
>Pope John Paul recently made a 16th-century peasant the first Indian
>saint in the Americas, despite doubts the man ever existed.
>
>
>Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, who looks more like a Spanish conqueror than
>an indigenous peasant in his official portrait, had repeated visions
>of a dark-skinned Virgin Mary in 1531, which resulted in the conversion
>of millions of indigenous Mexicans to Catholicism. Today, 90 million of
>the 100 million citizens of Mexico are Catholic.
>
>
>Originally this dark skinned virgin was known as Tonan and was a primary
>goddess and creative principle of the Aztecs. She was often portrayed as
>a mountain and her spirit dwelled within and protected several mountains
>in the area.
>Tonan came to be known as the Virgin of Guadalupe and is one of Mexico's
>central cultural and nationalistic symbols.
>
>
>Before heading back to Rome, the pope also beatified two Indians who
>were lynched in 1700 after denouncing their Indian community to Catholic
>authorities for worshipping pagan idols.
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