Taoiseach, Ministers of State, Deputies and Senators, representatives of other Churches and Faith Communities:When he spoke in St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday 24 November last on the occasion of the Consistory, Pope Benedict XVI said that it was an, “event that always inspires special emotion”, one “gladdened by this eloquent sign of Catholic unity”.
Taoiseach I am very grateful to you for this Reception at which we can manifest our unity as a people and our gladness at the honour Pope Benedict bestowed on our country in the unprecedented appointment of a third Irish Cardinal. I am particularly pleased that my predecessor as Archbishop of Armagh, Cardinal Cahal Daly could be with us this evening.
Like you Taoiseach, he is a man who has been steadfast and courageous in the search for peace in Ireland. His impact on the spiritual, moral and intellectual formation of our country has been immense and, I have no doubt, will be celebrated by generations to come. Cardinal Daly, I am very honoured that you could be with us here this evening.
The Holy Father on the occasion of the Consistory went on to address what he called a respectful deferential greeting to the Government representatives who had assembled there from every part of the world.
Indeed, the Secretary of State, Cardinal Bertone commented to me on the high level and strong representation from Ireland – North and South – on that occasion. The presence of Her Excellency, President McAleese, and of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern, along with the other members of the delegation was a source of great satisfaction to me personally and to many other people. It was, in my opinion, a clear recognition of the importance of the place of faith in the life of so many people in Ireland, something I know is appreciated by representatives of the many faith traditions present here this evening.
Let me also take this opportunity Taoiseach to thank you and your Government for the determination with which you established the structured dialogue between the Government Churches, Philosophical and non confessional Organisations of Ireland in February of last year. It did not go unnoticed that your Government was among the first, if not the first, to establish this initiative under the then draft European Constitution. While recognising the autonomy and distinct vocation of both, this initiative has given a new, mature and transparent basis to the relationship between Churches, faith communities and the State in their mutual responsibility for the common good. I hope it is an initiative which might be taken up in due course by those political parties outside of Government. I certainly found that the recent meetings between the political parties in Northern Ireland and our Northern Ireland Catholic Council for Social Affairs were very helpful to us to and the parties.
The structured dialogue is also a concrete expression of the new diversity which characterises our country. This is a diversity which we celebrate. It is a diversity which, through the invaluable work of Churches and others at local level, has become integrated into our social, religious and political life with consiberable ease. While we should never be complacent, or fail to provide adequate resources and rights to support those who have come to live among us from other countries, the relative success of integration in Ireland is due in no small part I believe to the culture of care, kindness and welcome which flows from the Christian faith. It is a culture shared by many of those who have come to live in Ireland in recent years. It is a culture which contributes to the development of cohesive communities and civic responsibility. This is why we all have a stake, Government, citizen, Churches and faith communities in ensuring the freedom and rights of religion in our society. As our event this evening demonstrates, there is no contradiction between recognition of the important role played by Churches and other faith groups in society and a necessary separation of Church and State.
Indeed I would like to acknowledge that the civil authorities of this country, both North and South, have been extremely gracious and generous in their participation at the Consistory itself and the various events connected with it.
I want to single out the kindness of the Ambassador of Ireland to the Holy See, His Excellency, Ambassador Noel Fahey. He and his staff have been exceptionally kind, considerate and helpful.
I lived eighteen years of my life in Rome. At all times I found the staff of both Irish Embassies most efficient, courteous, professional, well informed and helpful. I am very grateful to them and to successive Irish Governments for their support of the unique and historic place of the Irish College in Rome.
I would also like to pay tribute this evening to the many other Irish Diplomats and representatives I have met, both formally and informally over the years. From those who have worked on the peace process in Northern Ireland to those who work closely with Trocaire and other Church based development projects across the world. In every case I can say that my experience of our Irish representatives here and abroad has been one of very professional, committed and generous people with a high reputation among their host nations and diplomatic colleagues. You instinctively feel very proud to be Irish in their company. I want to thank them and I want to thank the Government for its continued partnership and support
For this and many other reasons I believe that developments in Europe are of great significance to the people of this country and hence our lively interest in the current debate about the Lisbon Treaty.
I welcome the structured dialogue between the government and faith groups in this country which includes Christian churches. I think some good work has already been done. It is appreciated. This mode of communication is a most useful channel. I think it would profitably be extended to other interested parties in Dáil Éireann as has happened in Northern Ireland.
Taoiseach, I would like to thank you for your talk at the Conference, hosted in Croke Park Hotel last May on the Social Doctrine of the Church and also for the very significant contribution of the Irish Government to aid programmes.
Reference has been made to the Peace Process. In reality, it is politicians who make peace.
Abbot Christopher Jameson became known to viewers when his Benedictine community were featured on the BBC series The Monastery. From that series he has written a guide to finding sanctuary. In it he includes a piece purposely and provocatively called: Religion Causes Peace because a phrase most commonly heard is the opposite: Religion causes war.
He believes that today religion has a vital role to play in promoting peace. He cites research from Bradford University to support his view. The research is analysed in the 32 wars of the 20th century and it was considered only three had a significant religious element. He goes on to say that terrorism is fed by despair, war is sustained by fear, religion offers hope against despair and love that drives out fear and that is the road to genuine peace.
I wish you and your colleagues continued success. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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