Press Releases
"WAR IS THE ULTIMATE FAILURE" - ARCHBISHOP EAMES
Speaking at the St Patrick's Eve service in St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh following the dedication of the Millennium Window that commemorates Primates and Deans who have served in Armagh Diocese, Archbishop Robin Eames said: "As we thank God for the leadership and ministry of successive Archbishops and Deans in this ancient Cathedral on the eve of St Patrick's Day we are conscious of the dark clouds of conflict in the Gulf.
"St Patrick brought Christianity to this troubled island. In the face of conflict all those generations ago he taught love, peace and reconciliation. Today on the site of his church on the hill of Armagh we turn back again to that same message.
"War is the ultimate failure. War happens when dialogue, talks and human dealing fails. If war occurs in Iraq it marks the failure of humanity to succeed in reaching agreement by other means. History has taught us that lesson in Ireland. War and violence are a judgement of failure in human relations. At this time we pray that Ireland has learnt that lesson. But on the world scale we may well wonder if the might of arms is once more to be used because humanity has yet to learn that the power of reasonable dealing with each other is mightier than the sword.
"In our prayers this afternoon we remember the leaders of the nations who are making grave decisions which will affect the lives of millions: we remember all those from this Province and nation who are serving in the Gulf: and we pray for those who will carry the ultimate burden of suffering - the innocent men, women and children who are thc real 'poor of this world'.
"Even at this hour we pray that the message of peace with justice may prevail on this earth.
"Beside such momentous dangers for the world may we hope this Patrick's-tide that a new dawn of understanding away from the darkness of violence is becoming a reality for our native soil"
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