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The ACC's newspaper, Anglican Journal, reported recently that several Anglican dioceses were on the brink of insolvency. Last year the general synod incorporated the church's international relief agency—the Primate's Fund—as a separate entity to protect the fund's assets should the church face huge lawsuit settlements or bankruptcy.

In the May 2001 issue, Anglican Journal, editor Vianney Carriere wrote: "General synod … today stands on the brink of bankruptcy protection at best, dissolution at worst, in part as a result of federal government action in the courts and inaction everywhere else.

"If the government fails to find the means to resolve lawsuits around residential schools in a way that allows the churches to go on with this and other ministries, the victims of that failure will be the people of Canada, those who never use the churches no less than those who do."

In a statement to members of the church, the bishops gave their assurance that regardless of the outcome of the lawsuits, the life of the church would continue.

"Finally, we commit ourselves, whatever the outcome, to nurture and lead the Anglican family through these difficult times, always seeking the will of Christ and the well-being of Christ's Church."

About 200 of the Anglican Church's congregations are made up primarily of indigenous people. Since 1991 the church has funded extensive community-based healing efforts. Ironically these operations, funded by the general synod, are also threatened by the looming financial crisis.

Archbishop Michael Peers, Primate of the ACC, has requested Anglicans to contact their representatives in the federal parliament to express their concern. He said in a statement released by the church, "Justice is not now being served, and we cannot see how continuing this pattern will ever serve the purposes of justice."

Copyright © 2001 ENI.

The Anglican Church of Canada has an extensive area of its site devoted to the residential schools controversy.

For continuing coverage of this issue, see the Anglican Journal, the ACC's monthly newspaper (its October 1999 issue provides especially good background information on the abuse allegations and their implications for the church.)

The University of Saskatchewan's Native Law Center has a massive bibliography of articles and resources about the suits.

United Press International has additional coverage of the alleged sexual abuse and suits involving the 130 publicly funded institutions.

The Diocese of Toronto urged its members to write to Members of Parliament over the federal government's handling of the residential schools issue.

More articles and resources on the residential schools cases are available from Yahoo's full coverage areas on First Nations and religion.

Recent Christianity Today articles about the lawsuits include:

Canadian Politician Works With Churches to Resolve Abuse Crisis | Deputy Prime Minister meets with church leaders to resolve court cases (June 6, 2001)

Canada's Anglican Church Considers Possibility of Financial Ruin | Court costs, settlements surrounding abuse allegations could mean bankruptcy (Jan. 31, 2001)

Legal Costs Shut Down Canadian Diocese | Abuse claims cause the Anglican Diocese of Cariboo to disband (Oct. 19, 2000)

Lawsuits Force Anglicans to Cut Staff and Programs | Abuse allegations cause the Anglican Church of Canada to scale back church support and overseas ministries. (Aug. 25, 2000)

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June (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45