Archbishop says solidarity is needed in current crisis
The Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin has said Irish society needs solidarity of purpose in the current crisis. The Archbishop said if the country is to move forward we need not just negativity, but a renewed sense of national purpose.
Speaking at Mass to celebrate graduations at the Mater Dei Institute of Education this afternoon (Friday) Archbishop Martin said, “Solidarity is about how we personally interact with each other. The Christian community should be a model of solidarity, a model in which we share not just financial resources but also our own talents and abilities and our basic humanity and love.”
He added that “Ireland in its current crisis requires obviously to keep its feet firmly on the ground in addressing the unprecedented challenge we have inherited. We must be lucid about the mistakes of the past and the uncertainties of the path forward. A political climate of anger about the past and anxiety of the future could also lead to a negative politics which is only “against”. The basis of that national purpose must be solidarity. It will be solidarity among us all in the face of the challenge. Solidarity, however, cannot be dished out across the board in equal-sized portions, as a common percentage of cuts or additional revenue. Solidarity is the art of measuring in proportion to specific needs; it involves that special insight which comes by looking at reality through the lens of focus on the vulnerable.”
Recalling today as the first anniversary of the publication of the Murphy report, Archbishop Martin told graduates that openly stressing the significance of their faith has become difficult for many due to the scandals of abuse within the Church. “Today is the first anniversary of the publication of the Murphy Report, an anniversary which will reawaken the pain and the anger of many survivors of abuse.” he said.
