Press Releases08 Sep 14

Statement By Revd Dr Donald Watts, Co–chair Of The Irish Inter Church Meeting And President Of The Irish Council Of Churches, On The Retirement Of Cardinal Seán Brady And The Appointment Of Archbishop Eamon Martin As Archbishop Of Armagh

Statement from the Revd Dr Donald Watts, co–chair of the Irish Inter Church Meeting and President of the Irish Council of Churches:
 
‘I wish to express the good wishes of the Irish Council of Churches and the Irish Inter Church Meeting to Cardinal Seán Brady on his retirement and wish him every blessing as he begins the next phase of his Ministry. We have worked together for many years, through his role as co–chair of the Irish Inter Church Meeting and in a variety of other ways. I have always appreciated his patient thoughtfulness, his deep spirituality and gift of friendship. I would also wish to acknowledge his enormous contribution to inter church relations in Ireland. He chaired meetings with a gentle humility that has enabled rich dialogue and built understanding. As he retires we enjoy unprecedented positive relationships between our member churches.  

‘Together with the member churches of the Irish Council of Churches I wish to congratulate Archbishop Eamon on his new ministry as Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland and look forward to working with him over the coming years. The Irish Council of Churches first worked with him though his time as Executive Secretary to the Irish Bishops’ Conference and we are delighted that we can now build on that relationship in his new role. I note with enthusiasm that he has expressed the desire to share the friendship and passion for the Gospel of Christ with the other Christian traditions in Ireland and to encourage one another. We look forward to realising this within the inter–church structures.
 
‘I pray that you may both continue to know the peace, mind and heart of Christ and the power of the Holy Sprit as we continue to work for the glory of God’s Kingdom through the Churches in Ireland.’