President Mary McAleese has told the Church of Ireland General Synod that it is far from the whole truth to accuse churches of failing to do their utmost to challenge sectarianism. The President also urged the gathering to tackle social challenges such as children suffering abuse and neglect.
She told her 600 or so listeners in Galway that ironically at the very time when the secretarian language of politics had softened our own culture of courtesy was weakening.
Her remarks were contained in the first address by a Head of State to the church's annual parliament.
The President was warmly received by more than 500 members of Synod. She began her address by ad libbing on the Spirit One Spa which she had noticed on her way into the Galway Raddison venue.
She said she now had the image of all eleven bishops sitting around in a hot tub discussing very important things. But Archbishop Alan Harper of Armagh humourously assured her a tub was not a symbol of office.
She told the strongly northern gathering it was far from the whole truth to accuse churches of failing to do their utmost to challenge sectarianism saying they had consistently championed peace despite the troubles' most inhospitable circumstances.
Praising the almost miraculous softening of language exchanged by old enemies over the past year, Mrs McAleese urged chuches to guide people who, in their tens of thousands, needed company.
Among those whose plight she highlighted were children whose very formation was being destroyed by abuse and neglect.+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce