Press Releases
PRIMATE SPEAKS OF MORAL ISSUES IN PEACE PROCESS
ADDRESS BY THE MOST REVEREND DR ROBIN EAMES, ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH, PRIMATE OF ALL IRELAND.
It is a great privilege and pleasure to worship with CIMS today. For much of my parochial ministry I valued and encouraged the work of CIMS in the parish and I recall together with the Dean of Armagh sharing in visits to various places of interest across the water in days when it was possible to contemplate such expense. I also recall the fellowship of the Society and the friendships I made. But above all I remember those men who found a new dimension to their faith, a new interest in the Church and a new commitment to Christ because of what CIMS stood for. I have followed the life of the Society ever since and I am delighted to be with you at your annual service today.
As I think of the aims of CIMS and its influence in the lives of men I am reminded of that central core of its vision - the preparation of men to witness to their faith in the world. On the one hand there is every opportunity to talk about our faith in our meetings, to learn more about the Church - on the other is the privilege of translating our belief into action in our lives.
Rarely has there been a more appropriate time in the history of this Province to reflect on that dual aim and purpose : Our faith and our practice. Rarely has the life of this community needed a more emphatic injection of dedicated Christian leadership. Rarely has the cost of a failure to match belief with practice been greater.
This afternoon Northern Ireland faces so much danger and uncertainty. On the one hand we see in our midst people who kill and injure. From homes in this society they are prepared to go out and kill people from other homes simply because of their religion. They are oblivious to public condemnation or appeal. They are not concerned with what society may think of them. Provided their victims are members of a particular religious tradition then they feel in some warped way justified in their actions. What sort of people are they? Have they no human compassion? Do they ever feel pity? Have they any notion of the sorrow they cause? Their sole contribution to our society is to be messengers of fear. Loyalist killers claim to be making some sort of political statement. They claim to be acting on behalf of others. Let us be perfectly clear this afternoon - they do not represent the vast bulk of the Protestant population in Northern Ireland. They have no mandate for killing. Their actions are directly opposed to the will of Almighty God who will one day judge us all.
But as members of CIMS, as active members of the Church, we must do more than condemn these dreadful acts. We must recognise and take what responsibility we should for the attitudes which have made sectarianism rife in this society. The stark reality of our times is that sectarianism has grown into a monster in our midst because of generations of division, generations of suspicion and generations of attitudes which have been condoned, encouraged and allowed to fester. It has even been given a cloak of respectability by some. We must be honest about this. For very many reasons sectarianism can be found in far too many parts of our society. Both of our communities have contributed to this state of affairs. Both carry responsibility.
But on this occasion as we meet to thank God for the life and influence of CIMS I want to reflect on some aspects of our problems to which the Christian Church should direct its attention.
I pose this question : what are the moral issues confronting our society at this time?
Murder is a sin. Murder is a sin in the sight of God. There is no reason which can be offered which can possibly justify the murder of a human being, Protestant or Roman Catholic, in Northern Ireland. Let our neighbours in the Roman Catholic community hear our voice loud and clear. The vast majority of Protestants utterly condemn the recent indiscriminate murder of Roman Catholics by any loyalist paramilitary organisation. Such deeds are utterly immoral. They are not committed on our behalf or in our name.
Second, there is a moral element to political dialogue. The pressures on political representatives to make progress is intense at present. They all deserve our prayers. But we need to realise that the peace process through political dialogue involves the morality of commitment, integrity and a recognition that so much depends on progress being made through democratic decision-making. We want our politicians to engage in debate, argument and seek agreement. But the community deserves the knowledge that genuine efforts are being made to address the divisions of our society. The morality of genuine political dialogue must never be allowed to give way to the immorality of violence. We have come a long way - but we also have a very long way to go.
Third, there is the moral issue of what sort of place we want this Province to become. We have seen and experienced the failures of the past. History has not always been kind to Northern Ireland. Now we must make every effort to reach a society in which the truly Christian principles of fairness, justice, peace and common understanding underline all our dealings. We cannot afford to move forward with feelings of alienation, hurt or injustice dictating the attitudes of any one community. Threatening behaviour, threatening attitudes, words or actions must become not just unlawful - they must become socially unacceptable.
One of the consequences of our history is that the search for peace raises so many moral issues. When we face a period of violence it is relatively easy to distinguish right from wrong. We know and recognise evil. We condemn actions of evil. But when we face a period of readjustment in a search for lasting peace the edges of what is clear and what is unclear become blurred. Issues need to be re-examined and attitudes need to adjust to new situations. It is not as easy to make clear decisions. For example, there is the moral issue of how and when people divided by violence and history can reach agreement let alone discuss hurt and division. There is the moral issue of coming to terms with historic division and doing something about it. There is the moral question of how far and at what speed old enmities are faced. We are seeing the moral morass of such issues at this time. But there is also a moral imperative. We must grasp the opportunities for a lasting and a just peace. Taking risks for peace has a truly Christian foundation. The morality of peace carries with it the assurance that "Blessed are the peacemakers."
This is the one moral issue which for all of us in the Cathedral must receive priority. We claim to be Christians. We claim to be followers of Jesus Christ. We are active members of the Church. We believe in the love, forgiveness and presence of Almighty God. We live in a Province dominated by frustration, bereavement and uncertainty. Our answer to all problems, our fundamental attitude to all issues in public and private life must be: what is the mind of Christ?
So much that is happening around us represents a challenge to the followers of Jesus Christ. At this time amidst the voices clamouring for attention throughout our society and despite all the obstacles the voice of Christ reflected in the words and actions of people is the only answer. As men who accept the aims of CIMS, as men devoted to Christ, but as men living and working in the real world we must be prepared to bring that faith into our society. We must be prepared for the cost of discipleship - we must ask a fundamental question:
"What more can we do to bring about a community of justice and peace under God?"
Further information from:
THE CHURCH OF IRELAND PRESS OFFICE
Church of Ireland House
61 - 67 Donegall Street
Belfast BT1 2QH