分类： society

The Vatican is poised to announce the return of several dozen Indigenous artifacts to Canada, marking a significant step in addressing the Catholic Church’s historical role in suppressing Indigenous cultures in the Americas. The items, including an Inuit kayak, are part of the Vatican Museum’s ethnographic collection, known as the Anima Mundi museum. This move comes amid growing global debates over the restitution of cultural goods taken from Indigenous peoples during colonial periods. The decision follows Pope Francis’s 2022 meeting with Indigenous leaders, during which he apologized for the Church’s involvement in Canada’s residential school system. The leaders, shown artifacts such as wampum belts, war clubs, and masks, requested their return. Francis later expressed support for returning items on a case-by-case basis, emphasizing the importance of making gestures of reconciliation. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has been collaborating with Indigenous groups to facilitate the return, with an official announcement expected soon. The artifacts, accompanied by provenance information, will first be sent to the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec, where experts and Indigenous communities will determine their origins and future. This process follows the “church-to-church” model used in 2023 when the Vatican returned Parthenon Marbles to Greece. The return of these items, acquired during an era of “Catholic Imperialism,” is seen as a pivotal moment in recognizing Indigenous sovereignty and fostering healing.

Five relatives of Jozef Puska, the convicted murderer of Ashling Murphy in the Republic of Ireland, have been sentenced for their involvement in obstructing justice. The tragic incident occurred in January 2022 when Murphy, a young woman, was fatally stabbed while walking near her home in Tullamore, County Offaly. Puska’s wife, Lucia Istokova, and his brothers, Marek and Lubomir Puska Jr., were found guilty of withholding crucial information from the Irish police, known as gardaí. Istokova received a 20-month prison sentence, while the brothers were each sentenced to two and a half years. The maximum penalty for this offense is five years. Additionally, Puska’s sisters-in-law, Viera Gaziova and Jozefina Grundzova, were convicted of assisting an offender by destroying evidence, specifically burning Puska’s clothes. Gaziova was sentenced to two years, and Grundzova to one year and nine months, with the maximum sentence for this crime being 10 years. During the trial, the Murphy family expressed their profound grief and frustration. Raymond Murphy, Ashling’s father, stated that the family’s small solace in knowing Puska was imprisoned and isolated would have been stripped away if his relatives had successfully concealed his guilt. Ashling’s sister, Amy, described how the murder had devastated their lives, robbing them of joy and meaning. The judge acknowledged the Murphy family’s immense suffering, emphasizing the limitations of the criminal justice system in alleviating their pain. She noted that the defendants’ actions represented a deliberate effort to protect Puska, despite his confession to the murder.

A 26-year-old man, accused of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl in Dublin in the early hours of Monday, has postponed his application for bail. Due to Republic of Ireland’s strict regulations regarding sexual assault cases, the identity of the accused remains undisclosed. During the court proceedings, the defense solicitor indicated that no bail application would be submitted on Wednesday but reserved the possibility for a future request. Judge Alan Mitchell stipulated that a 48-hour notice must be provided before any bail application is made. Additionally, the judge approved a request for a comprehensive evaluation of the accused’s fitness to stand trial. This includes both medical and psychiatric assessments, with the provision of necessary medical treatment as required. The accused, who communicated through an interpreter, has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear via videolink at Cloverhill District Court on November 5.

A tense and volatile situation unfolded in Dublin on Tuesday evening as a protest outside a hotel housing asylum seekers escalated into violence. The Citywest Hotel in Saggart became the focal point of unrest, with riot police deployed to maintain order. Demonstrators, reportedly incensed by an alleged sexual assault of a young girl in the area earlier in the week, clashed with Gardaí (Irish police). The officers faced a barrage of bricks, fireworks, and glass bottles, leading to significant property damage, including a police van set ablaze. Authorities swiftly responded, arresting six individuals, five of whom have since been charged. The incident highlights growing tensions surrounding immigration policies and the treatment of asylum seekers in Ireland, raising concerns about public safety and social cohesion.