Bishop Pierre Morissette writes: "We recognize with admiration and gratitude that your personal leadership in the face of these heinous crimes has been strong and decisive." The leader of the diocese of Bishop of Saint-Jérôme also recalled the Holy Father's meeting with National Chief Phil Fontaine last April, where the Pontiff offered his "deep sorrow and empathy to the victims of various forms of abuse among Canada’s First Nations in our former Residential Schools". Expressing confidence in Pope Benedict's leadership, the Bishop concluded his letter: 'Be assured that we stand with you in your resolve to lead the Church on "a path of healing, renewal and reparation.'" See the full text of Bishop Morissette's letter below:

Letter of support to the Holy Father from CCCB President Bishop Pierre Morissette

29 March 2010

Holy Father,

On behalf of the Bishops of Canada, I am writing today to assure you of our unequivocal support as we witness in the Canadian media and elsewhere an unprecedented number of reports which claim that you have not responded properly to the problems of sexual abuse of minors. We recognize with admiration and gratitude that your personal leadership in the face of these heinous crimes has been strong and decisive.

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Note the following links on the CCCB website as well:

• The Church is not trying to cover anything up: Archbishop Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster and President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, news release by the Catholic Communications Network (England & Wales).
• A Response to the New York Times: article by Father Raymond de Souza, priest of the Archdiocese of Kingston, Ontario, and columnist for Canada's National Post.
• Pope deserves better credit: column by David Warren for the Ottawa Citizen.
• Archbishop Timothy Dolan: remarks from the Archbishop of New York, and comments on his blog.
• Keeping the record straight on Benedict and the crisis: article from John L. Allen Jr., Vatican observer and columnist for the National Catholic Register

And of course, as posted on the S+L blog Tuesday, comments by Archbishop Thomas Collins of Toronto, from his Chrism Mass homily.