Diocesan News25 Mar 15

Freedom Of The City Of Derry To Former Bishops

Front l–r: Bishop Edward Daly, Bishop James Mehaffey, Back l–r: Mayor Brenda Stevenson, Bishop Donal McKeown, Bishop Ken Good, Mr John Kelpie, Chief Executive of Derry City Council

The former Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Dr James Mehaffey, has spoken of his pride at being granted the Freedom of the City of Derry, along with his long–time friend, retired Bishop of Derry Dr Edward Daly. The ceremony, in Londonderry’s Guildhall, was one of the last formal acts by Derry City Council before it merges with neighbouring Strabane next month.

Representatives of the four main political parties were in the chamber, with councillors joined by the Foyle MP Mark Durkan, the Nobel peace laureate John Hume, the Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and members of the Mehaffey and Daly families. The recipients’ successors, Bishop Ken Good and Bishop Donal McKeown, were also in attendance, along with leading figures from the civic life. It was a doubly historic occasion, with the formal presentation being made by the last ever Mayor of the city, Councillor Brenda Stevenson.

Bishop Mehaffey told the meeting that he was a Freeman of the City of London, “but being a Freeman of the City of Derry means so much more”. He thanked Bishop Daly for his friendship and support over the last 35 years. “During my entire episcopal ministry in the Diocese, Bishop Daly has been a true friend and colleague. We have frequently discussed how much we share in common. It has been a great source of strength and companionship in the episcopal ministry.”

Dr Daly recalled how difficult inter–church dialogue and church leadership had been in the 1970s and 1980s. Borrowing from the Archbishop of Canterbury, he said it was not just “’nice people talking to nice people about nice things’. It involved getting one’s hands dirty; it meant talking honestly and bluntly; confronting difficult issues…and being mature enough to reach a Christian resolution.

“I treasure my faith and its values and Bishop James treasures his. But we learned to share rather than impose, to tolerate rather than to squabble. Above all we learned to respect rather than distrust. If that can be achieved in the midst of bitter conflict, surely it can be achieved at any time.”

The Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Ken Good, applauded the City Council for acknowledging the efforts of ‘two of our community’s great peace–builders’ so publicly.

“Their warm and enduring friendship sustained and encouraged the people of this diocese – and beyond – during the darkest days of the Troubles,” Bishop Good remarked. “They have been tireless champions for peace and reconciliation.

“Bishop Daly and Bishop Mehaffey have shown us, by their example, how to hold clear convictions and yet respect the viewpoint of others; they have taught us that difference need not be a barrier to friendship; they have proved that we can achieve more together than apart. That message was critically important three decades ago, when this community was tearing itself apart, and it remains just as relevant today.

“It is fitting,” Bishop Good suggested, “that the decision to confer the Freedom of the City upon the two bishops was taken unanimously by the City Council. That is a measure of the progress that has been made in this city and community in recent decades. I hope that the Bishops’ enduring friendship will continue to inspire others – in the churches, the community and in politics – to follow their example and work for peace.”

Bishop Mehaffey was accompanied throughout the Council ceremony by his wife of”almost 59 years, Thelma, who was born in the city. Dr Mehaffey described her as “a rock’ in his life. “Thelma and I hold different points of view at times and don’t see eye to eye at all times. That helps to enrich and enlarge life.”

Photo 2: Mayor Brenda Stevenson welcomes the Mehaffeys to the Guildhall