The Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin has called for the
re-establishment of a national forum on Church-State dialogue on faith
and social issues between the new Fine Gael / Labour government and the
leaders of Ireland's main churches.
The forum last met in April 2008 under the leadership of Bertie
Aherne.
However due to the severe economic crisis, his successor Brian
Cowen did not have time to convene the forum.
Speaking at a special multi-denominational service at Saint Ann's
Church of Ireland on Dawson Street to mark the opening of the 31st Dáil,
Archbishop Martin urged new Taoiseach Enda Kenny to reconvene the
forum, which, he claimed, did much good work.
The forum was first set up in 2007 and at the time the Primate of All
Ireland Cardinal Seán Brady praised former Taoiseach Bertie Aherne for
being the first head of government in Europe to establish an official
body for talks between politicians and religious leaders.
Indeed before
leaving office Mr Aherne spoke of been mindful of the views of all
religions and none that make up Irish society.
He said he “'was acutely conscious of the large and growing number of
our citizens who do not subscribe to any religious belief. We must be
acutely aware of how our democracy provides an inclusive and respectful
approach to all our citizens, from whatever religious or philosophical
perspective they come.”
He also said, “from the perspective of Irish
Republicanism, I believe that the political challenge is to build a
society which has the allegiance of Catholic, Protestant and dissenter
and free thinkers as well.”
Speaking at the service, Archbishop Martin told the congregation,
which included the President Mary McAleese, current Taoiseach Enda Kenny
and former Taoisigh Brian Cowen, Albert Reynolds and Garret Fitzgerald,
that “church leaders were assured by former Taoiseach Bertie Aherne
that the structured dialogue provided for in the Lisbon Treaty would
continue as an official channel for them to express their views on
matters relating to a multi-cultural society.”