The new policies, approved by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, call on church leaders to set up listening sessions with local Native leaders, incorporate tribal customs into sacred rites and improve access to Catholic universities and other educational opportunities for Native Americans, among other directives.

The document chronicled some of the abuses that Native Americans suffered at the hands of the church, including its operation of more than 80 government-sponsored boarding schools that were part of a decades-long forced assimilation program.

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The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles county court, targets Meta Platforms (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram), Snap Inc. (owner of Snapchat), ByteDance (parent company of TikTok), and Alphabet (which owns YouTube and Google).

The complaint alleges that these platforms, with their addictive design choices, exacerbate mental health issues among Native youth.

According to the Pew Research Center, virtually all US teenagers use social media and roughly one in six describes their use as "almost constant".

Lonna Jackson-Street, chairperson of the Spirit Lake Tribe in North Dakota, highlighted the vulnerability of Native youth to the relentless scrolling encouraged by social media.

"Endless scrolling is rewiring our teenagers' brains" stated Gena Kakkak, chairwoman of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin.

Kakkak emphasised the demand for accountability. "We are demanding these social media corporations take responsibility for intentionally creating dangerous features that ramp up the compulsive use of social media by the youth on our Reservation."

The lawsuit describes "a sophisticated and intentional effort that has caused a continuing, substantial and long-term burden to the Tribe and its members".

Furthermore, the lawsuit contends that resources from vital programmes have been diverted to address problems social media have caused.

Disproportionately high suicide rates

Similar legal actions are underway across the US with schools, cities and states accusing social media companies of exploiting young users. New York City and Ontario school boards have voiced concerns over the impact on mental health and education.

In response to the lawsuit, Google denied the allegations. "Providing young people with a safer, healthier experience has always been core to our work" Google spokesperson José Castañeda said in a statement.

Snap Inc. reiterated its dedication to fostering user connections while acknowledging the need for ongoing improvement.

Native Americans see disproportionately high suicide rates, compounded by limited access to mental health care and historical trauma.

Social media can offer connections to culture and community. However it exposes users to discrimination and lacks adequate policies to address these issues.

Andrea Wiglesworth, a researcher on stress in Native populations, highlighted the complex interplay between cultural identity and online experiences. She stressed the importance of Indigenous communities navigating these digital spaces responsibly.

While research on the impact of social media on mental health is ongoing, experts emphasise the need for regulation to protect young users. Calls for legislative action to curb exploitative practices and promote online safety have gained bipartisan support.

Where to get help

• In a life-threatening situation, call 111
• 1737, Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 to talk to a trained counsellor
• Anxiety New Zealand 0800 ANXIETY (0800 269 4389)
• Depression.org.nz 0800 111 757 or text 4202
• Lifeline 0800 543 354
• Rural Support Trust 0800 787 254
• Samaritans 0800 726 666
• Suicide Crisis Helpline 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
• Yellow Brick Road 0800 732 825
• thelowdown.co.nz Web chat, email chat or free text 5626
• What's Up 0800 942 8787 (for up to 18-year-olds). Phone counselling available Monday-Friday, noon-11pm and weekends, 3pm-11pm. Online chat is available 3pm-10pm daily
• Youthline 0800 376 633, free text 234, email talk@youthline.co.nz and find online chat and other support options here

Sources

AP News

CathNews New Zealand

He says papal decrees - called bulls - supporting the "Doctrine of Discovery" (the Doctrine) provided justification for "both political and personal violence against indigenous peoples."

He wants "a public acknowledgment from the Holy Father of the harm these bulls have done to the indigenous population."

The Doctrine draws from a series of papal documents dating back to 1452.

These were also included in future documents: Indigenous peoples were read the Spanish conquistadors' "Requerimiento", proclaiming their land belonged to Spain and demanding they abide by the monarchy's and the pope's authority.

"This particular doctrine has been used to justify both political and personal violence against Indigenous nations, Indigenous peoples and their culture — their religious and their territorial identities," Lucia says.

As recently as 2005 the US Supreme Court ruled that repurchasing traditional tribal lands does not "unilaterally revive (the tribe's) ancient sovereignty" over it.

"I've been trying to bring attention to this question of why the church, if it really wants to seek restorative justice, can't just issue apologies," says David McCallum SJ who alerted Lucia to the historical facts.

A papal bull from Alexander VI's in 1493, for instance, gave Spanish explorers the freedom to colonize the Americas and to convert Native peoples to Catholicism.

Lucia says last US spring when the US bishops' conference (USCCB) discussed ministry to Native Alaskans and Native Americans, he asked about residential schools for indigenous children and the Doctrine.

These schools' legacy has been in the news lately after hundreds of unmarked graves were found at three former schools in Canada.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has asked Francis to apologize — on Canadian soil — for the Church's role in this.

Up to 60 percent of Canada's 139 residential schools were run by the Catholic Church. An Indigenous delegation from Canada will meet Francis in December "to foster meaningful encounters of dialogue and healing."

The USCCB says it is watching the investigation "closely", pledging to "look for ways to be of assistance." However,

Lucia says he hasn't had any reaction from it about his concerns.

Although the Church rescinded the Doctrine centuries ago, this doesn't address the "enormity of the trauma and generational impact" the teachings had on Indigenous peoples, says McCallum.

There have been various Indigenous delegations to Rome - one in 2016 - to press the Vatican about the Doctrine.

"There have been responses ..., but they're not taking responsibility for anything," says Steven Newcomb, the Shawnee/Lenape co-founder of the Indigenous Law Institute, who led the 2016 delegation.

Numerous Protestant religious groups have rebuked the Doctrine, as did the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, which called on Francis to rescind the Doctrine in 2014.

"Simple apologies are not sufficient," Newcomb says. "There needs to be a real reckoning."

Lucia agrees: "Even as a Church we are called to conversion. I think this might be one of those conversion moments."

Source

• Religion News Service
• Image: Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse

At a Mass outside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC, on September 23, Serra became the first saint canonised on US soil.

The Pope praised Serra's treatment of Native Americans, calling him a "protector of Native Americans".

He "sought to defend the dignity of the native community, to protect it from those who had mistreated and abused it", Francis said.

"Mistreatment and wrongs which today still trouble us," Francis continued, "especially because of the hurt which they cause in the lives of many people."

The Pope portrayed the 18th century Spanish missionary Serra as the "embodiment of ‘a Church which goes forth', a Church which sets out to bring everywhere the reconciling tenderness of God".

Fifty different tribes in California condemned the sainthood conferred on Serra, said Deborah Miranda, a literature professor at Washington and Lee University in Virginia and a member of the Ohlone Costanoan Esselen Nation of California.

The missions ended up killing about 90 per cent of the California Native Americans present at the time of missionisation, Miranda said.

This created "all kinds of cultural and emotional baggage that we still carry to this day", she said.

A Native American campaign to stop Serra's canonisation never gained a hearing in Rome, Miranda added.

There have been accusations that Serra forced Christianity on the region, was complicit in the decline or elimination of native populations, and enslaved converts to the faith.

Fr Timothy Kesicki, SJ, said many scholars acknowledge Serra's complicated legacy.

"But I don't think Pope Francis wants pristine saints," Fr Kesicki continued, "because then no one will aspire to sainthood."

The canonisation Mass was celebrated in Spanish, but the readings were in various languages, including one in chochenyo, a Native American language.

Sources

• Crux Now
• CNN
• Text of Pope's homily at canonisation Mass
• Image: KTLA

A Spanish Franciscan, Blessed Serra introduced Christianity to much of California as he marched north with Spanish conquistadors in the 18th century.

Many Native Americans, though, say Blessed Serra and other missionaries helped wipe out native populations, enslaved converts and spread disease as they brutally imposed Christianity on them.

There have been protests in California and there is also a move to remove Blessed Serra's statue from the US Capitol.

Tribal councilwoman for the Ohlone Costanoan Esselen Nation, Louise Miranda Ramirez, said her tribe has decided to oppose the canonisation.

"We are not speaking up against the religion, we talking about the man himself and his acts and that the Church needs to hold him responsible," she said.

Ramirez said she is a Catholic and in her eyes Blessed Serra is no saint.

Vatican officials defended Blessed Serra's record, saying it shows he worked in defence of Native Americans, often intervening to spare them from the more brutal colonial officials.

Franciscan Fr Vincenzo Criscuolo said it was important to look at Blessed Serra as "a man of his time" who, like many others at the time used corporal punishment as an educational tool.

"It is not to be excluded, but it wasn't 'genocide,' it wasn't a death penalty," he said.

Pope Francis is scheduled to attend a day honouring Blessed Serra at the Pontifical American College in Rome on May 2.

The Pope plans to canonise Blessed Serra on September 23 during a Mass on the lawn of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington.

This would give the US its first Hispanic saint.

Fr Paul Murphy, pastor at Carmel Mission Basilica in California, said it is important to remember in Blessed Serra's case that canonisation does not mean a person lived a life without fault.

Sources

• Associated Press
• KSBW News
• Catholic News Service
• Image: ESCOFM