Bishop of Derry points to political vacum as cause of violence in
N. Ireland
The Parliament Buildings in Belfast. |
Bishop Donal McKeown of Derry, the city in Northern Ireland
that has been rocked by violent clashes in the past weeks, speaks of how
important it is for the spiritual leaders of the city to offer pastoral support
and to participate in the civil life of the community "at a time when the
politicians are not sitting round the one table and do not take part in the
Parliament in Belfast."
By Linda Bordoni
The Catholic and Anglican bishops of Northern Ireland have
condemned the violence that erupted in Derryduring the so-called
“Twelfth” week that marks a Protestant celebration held on 12 July.
They offered support to all those affected and released a
statement in which they “encourage political representatives to do their utmost
to end the stalemate which, they say, has paralysed politics in Northern
Ireland”.
For six successive nights, riots took place in Derry, and
although no one was killed or seriously hurt, the street violence was
punctuated by at least two separate attempts by alleged dissident republicans
who attacked officers of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and targeted
former Sinn Fein leaders.
After the Derry attacks, which targeted a small Protestant
community as well as sheltered housing nearby, the Church of Ireland Bishop of
Derry, Reverend Ken Good, and his Catholic counterpart, Bishop
Donal McKeown, visited the affected areas and spoke with community leaders
and residents.
Bishop McKeown told Vatican Radio about how important it is
that the Church leaders continue to remain very visible and present at a time
when the politicians are not sitting round the one table and do not take part
in the Parliament in Belfast:
Bishop Donal McKeown explained that what the two Church
leaders in the city have tried to do is two-fold:
Pastoral approach
“On the one hand the Church of Ireland and myself emphasized
the importance of a pastoral outreach to all those who felt very uneasy and
unhappy and worried because of the violence that exploded in our midst” he
said, revealing that they both undertook pastoral visits to different
communities in Derry.
He stressed his deep belief that it is important the Church
remains visible and present “at a time when the politicians are not sitting
round the one table and do not take part in the Parliament in Belfast”.
Participation in civil life
Secondly, Bishop McKeown said, “as Churches we try to work
with all the elements in the civil life of the city”.
He spoke of their desire to participate in many different ways
relating and interacting with all civil leaders, with tourists, political
parties, the chamber of commerce, trade unions, health authorities and police.
Bishop McKeown expressed his joy at the fact that the
Churches were were very much included at the gathering of the city, “and I was
happy to be asked to speak at that”.
“It is important that the Churches have their own pastoral
role but it is also important that we act as part of the civil life of our city
and it is wonderful that we are welcomed among all the different parties of the
city because it is recognized we have a particular contribution to make” he
said.
“We happily do that, the bishop explained, through our
own non-political perspective” he said.
We try to speak the message of the Good Shepherd, bishop
McKeown said, and “we also try to offer leadership and support to those who are
working for peace.”
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