Press Releases14 Oct 04

Statement from Bishop Good on proposed "A day of reflection" in Derry City

Statement from the Right Rev Ken Good, Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, in response to

A DAY OF REFLECTION

as proposed by the Mayor, Councillor Gearoid OhEara

Thursday 14th October 2004

"In Northern Ireland we are emerging from a troubled period of our history which has left a legacy of considerable pain and mistrust.

"The slow process of rebuilding trust is underway, and there are encouraging signs of healing and progress. I am hopeful that with realistic and courageous leadership, our society can emerge from the darkness of violence and divisiveness to a shared future where there is a meaningful sense of belonging for us all.

"Further progress does require that courageous steps be taken, and that creative ways forward be found. I commend the Mayor for the efforts he is making to be imaginative about a Day of Reflection, and also for the way in which he has sought to consult widely in recent months. He has made a commendable effort to work with both sides of the community.

"The outcome which we would all seek from an initiative like the one that he is proposing is that it would be genuinely inclusive, that it would have widespread support and that it would enable further healing of hurts and divisions.

"I have a concern that for a sizeable section of the community, the event as currently envisaged would fail to have the desired outcome. The reality is that any Mayor whose political allegiance is perceived as one that displays an apparent ambivalence toward dealing decisively with the issue of disarmament, and also conveys an ambivalence towards its support for the Police Service of Northern Ireland will have great difficulty in coming across as a unifying focus for many of the relatives of those whose lives have been lost as a result of terrorist violence.

"I look forward to the day when an event such as that envisaged by the Mayor can take place in this city with the support and involvement of the whole community. When the circumstances are right and the essential groundwork has been done (and I very much hope that that will be sooner rather than later), I will certainly do all that I can to encourage widespread participation in a gathering that will unify and bring healing."