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Since the mid-19th century, the Catholic Church, in collaboration with federal and state governments, implemented policies that forcibly removed hundreds of thousands of Native children from their families. These children were enrolled in more than 500 boarding schools across the United States, of which 87 were administered by the Catholic Church, according to comprehensive research by the Catholic Truth and Healing research group. These schools aimed to eradicate Native cultures, languages, and traditions, substituting them with European-American customs and values.

In a meticulously detailed 56-page document titled a "Pastoral Framework," the bishops expressed deep remorse over the profound and enduring impacts of these policies. They acknowledged, “The consequences for many Indigenous families were catastrophic, resulting in fractured familial bonds marked by substance abuse, domestic violence, abandonment, and neglect.” The document also candidly admitted the church’s complicity in perpetuating the trauma suffered by Native children.

This apology transcends mere acknowledgment, signifying a pivotal step toward reconciliation with Native American communities nationwide. It underscores the church’s failure in nurturing, respecting, and honoring those under its pastoral care.

Ruth Buffalo, president of the National Native Boarding School Healing Coalition and a former attendee of a Catholic boarding school in North Dakota, cautiously welcomed the apology as "a significant initial gesture." However, she voiced disappointment that the document did not directly confront issues such as the widespread sexual abuse endured by many children or the heart-wrenching reality that numerous never returned home.

Nick Tilsen, CEO of the NDN Collective and a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe, echoed these sentiments, characterizing the bishops’ apology as inadequate without meaningful actions. “Acknowledgment of this magnitude must be accompanied by concrete steps,” Tilsen asserted, criticizing what he perceived as a tepid response.

He pointed out that while the document acknowledged the grievous harm inflicted, it also attempted to highlight perceived positive outcomes of certain schools, such as providing refuge to orphaned children during epidemics in Alaska. Tilsen emphasized, “If you are apologizing, let it be a genuine apology. How often do we admonish our children against offering apologies followed by ‘buts’?”

Moreover, the pastoral document not only offered apologies but also outlined specific recommendations for the church to address its historical role and embark on authentic reconciliation efforts with Native American communities. These recommendations include commitments to uncover and disseminate historical records and to fully cooperate with investigations into past abuses.

“A foundation of trust must be established before the Church can earnestly pursue reconciliation with the Native American community,” the bishops affirmed in their pastoral framework. They stressed the shared responsibility of both the church and Native communities in actively working towards genuine reconciliation.

This apology by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops signifies a significant acknowledgment within the Catholic Church of its involvement in the grievous mistreatment of Indigenous peoples in North America. Pope Francis, during his visit to Canada in 2022, similarly expressed remorse for the church’s complicity in supporting the Canadian government’s policies of cultural obliteration and forced assimilation through residential schools.