Press Releases
Bishops of Derry Joint Statement on Shootings
Bishops of Derry Issue Joint Statement to Condemn Shootings
The Most Revd Seamus Hegarty, Catholic Bishop of Derry, and the Right Revd Ken Good, Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, have today, 2nd April 2009, issued a joint statement condemning the recent paramilitary-style shootings.
'The recent shootings in our city must be outrightly condemned as immoral and indefensible. The Christian Church teaches that life is sacred. An attack on the person is a rejection of the teachings of Christ. It is also an offence against the dignity of a person created by God.
The group or individuals responsible had one purpose. It would appear that the motivation is to gain power within their community, to impose control within communities rather than to serve them.
It is also indefensible for any group or individual to try to mask their real purposes by claiming to mete out some form of vigilante "justice". The policing and justice system in any community is the appropriate means for maintaining order. Individuals and groups who, in their pursuit of power, seek to act as judge, jury and executioner have no place in the minds of the citizens of this city and beyond. All that is being offered to our community by such actions is fear and lawlessness, and we refuse to accept this.
Considerable progress has been made in recent years. The citizens of this city are rightly proud of it and are committed to living in harmony. In an era of economic uncertainty leaders and people are uniting to seek the welfare of our community. We join together to both condemn and denounce the tarnishing of our city’s good name, with the effect on potential investment, tourism and jobs.'
ENDS
For further information contact:
Fr Michael Canny Tel: 028 7126 2894. Diocesan Press Officer for Derry Diocese (Roman Catholic)
Revd Earl Storey Tel 07752841802. Diocesan Communications Officer for Diocese of Derry and Raphoe (Church of Ireland)