Update: The Catholic Diocese of Rapid City, closed St. Bede's in Wakpala, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, three years ago. With memories that go back over a hundred years, Walpala Hunkpapa Catholic Elders, supported by St. Elizabeth's Hunkpapa Episcopal Elders and other Wakpala community members stayed close to St. Bede's for hours this morning, before, tearfully, watching the order of the Catholic Diocese of Rapid City, to burn down the St.Bedes Church cared out.
St. Bede's had been completely renovated in 1999 and most certainly could have been utilized by the Community of Wakpala. In fact, the Church and Land should have been returned to the rightful owners on whose land the Church was built, The Community of Wakpala, or the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, as soon as the Catholic Diocese of Rapid City closed St. Bede's, three years ago.
The Catholic Diocese of Rapid City burned St. Bede's Church down, even when they had been legally ordered by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe not to burn it down. They did anyway, with no respect for the Community of Wakpala, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe or Tribal Court!
The insensitivity of this unnecessary act of destruction, when our Relatives are already suffering from overwhelming flooding, is appalling! Would Jesus Christ do this?
Very pitiful behavior! It is easy to understand why Churchianity is disliked by many Indigenous Peoples. There is no way these actions are "Christian!" That is why I call it Churchianity.
Remember the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe legally ordered the Catholic Diocese of Rapid City not to commit this "act of arson" that was committed today. As well, for three years now, Wakpala Elders have been respectfully requesting the Catholic Diocese of Rapid City not to destroy St Bedes.
At the same time, our beloved Creator never closes a door without opening a window! Not easy to understand, sometimes, but in time it will all become clear, through our heartfelt Prayers, Faith, Love, and Compassion.!
One of the first positive outcomes is at that, Hunkpapa Catholics, Episcopalians and Community Members of other Faiths, today stood together, Unified in the Face of Injustice.
Let us pray that the Catholic Diocese of Rapid City, looks very deeply and prayerfully at the very heartfelt pain, hurt, sadness, hopelessness, and broken trust that their burning of St. Bede's caused today and arise and fulfill their stated Sacred Mission, to " Live the mission of Jesus Christ" and ensure this very unchristian behavior and injustice is corrected and recompense made.
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Video by Sister: Waniya Locke (Whipping Braids)