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Thorpe said the churches would like a public inquiry into the affair that would be shaped in part by the interested parties, including Aboriginal people.

Sister Marie Zarowny, chair of the Catholic Organizations Task Group for Indian Residential Schools, said the government's settlement proposal was not thorough enough. "Our proposal was looking at a more long-term comprehensive solution."

Discussions between the government and the ecumenical negotiating group have focused on determining the apportionment of liability between the government and churches. This has frustrated survivors whose claims have meanwhile hung in limbo.

Gray said that the government decided to take the majority of the responsibility because the views of the churches and government were still far apart and it was unfair to keep plaintiffs waiting while protracted talks went on.

Still, the churches are concerned that some of the church organizations involved will be unable financially to meet 30 per cent of the responsibility.

Meanwhile, Thorpe said, the number of plaintiffs had risen and continued to grow.

While more than 8,000 individuals have ongoing claims, it is estimated that some 105,000 people attended residential schools.

Copyright © 2001 ENI.

Pay now for schools' abuse: Natives — The Province (November 12, 2001)

Catholics forced to pay twice for native lawsuit — The Ottawa Citizen (November 12, 2001)

Offer offends lawyers — Regina Leader Post (October 31, 2001)

Canada to settle Indian abuse cases — BBC (October 30, 2001)

Feds offer settlements to Indian students — Canadian Press (October 30, 2001)

Federal government takes steps to speed up resolution of abuse claims — Canada News Wire (October 29, 2001)

Ottawa makes offer to residential school students — The Toronto Star (October 29, 2001)

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

Previous Christianity Today articles about the lawsuits include:

Canadian Anglicans Nearly Broke | A judicial ruling limiting damages seems to be their last hope. (Sept. 4, 2001)

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

As Canadian Synod Faces Bankruptcy, Bishops Plead with Government | Anglican bishops appeal to Prime Minister for intervention (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)

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.)

Classical Anglican Net News is a Weblog of sorts from a conservative Canadian Anglican perspective. It also has a special report area on the General Synod.

See also the ACC News page and the Anglican News Service.

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

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November (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45