THE leader of the Catholic Church in the Republic has warned that Ireland cannot shrink from its European responsibilities, and has called for greater, not less, engagement in the EU following the June rejection of the Lisbon Treaty.In his first major intervention in the post-Lisbon Treaty debate, the Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, said yesterday that Ireland's identity was "irrevocably bound with Europe".
Speaking in Dublin's Pro-Cathedral, Archbishop Martin said commitment to a better Europe involved "engagement, rather than resignation or simply lamenting from the sidelines".
The archbishop was preaching at a Mass to mark the feast day of Saint Laurence O'Toole, the 12th century Archbishop of Dublin, who died at Eu in Normandy in 1180, and who, Dr Martin said, had established strong links with Europe as a mediator.
Ordained
He yesterday ordained three students, two of whom are from abroad, to the rank of deacons -- the final stage before priesthood.
Aloysius Zuribo, from Nigeria, has been studying to minister as a priest of the Archdiocese of Dublin, while Stephen Inchul Kim, from South Korea, is preparing to become a priest with the order of Capuchin Franciscans.
The two new deacons are following in the footsteps of Fr Dan Nguyen, from Vietnam, who was ordained a priest for the archdiocese of Dublin last July by Archbishop Martin.
In this 'globalisation' of the Dublin clergy, the one homespun cleric to be raised to the diaconate yesterday, was Colin Rothery, from Kimmage.
Welcoming a group of visitors from Eu led by the Archbishop of Rouen, Jean Charles Descaubes, and the Lord Mayor of Eu, Madame Marie Francoise Gaouyer, Archbishop Martin said their presence was a reminder of how deep Ireland's links were with Europe as a people and as a Church.
"That link today is not one based on fear of domination, but one of opportunity, participation and partnership," Dr Martin said. "This does not mean a problem-free relationship but it does mean, however, that Ireland within Europe, has its contribution to bring."
Archbishop Martin said that, far from looking at Europe as a threat to our distinctive Irishness, we should realise that Ireland has the capacity to contribute to Europe and to change Europe.
Noting that the Irish Catholic Church today could learn from St Laurence, the archbishop said that in the difficult times of his day, the saint "walked the unsafe paths of a war-torn Europe as one committed to peace and harmonious living."
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(Source: II)