ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESEAT THE LAUNCH OF THE “BELIEVERS ENQUIRY”AT NEWMAN HOUSE
ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESEAT THE LAUNCH OF THE “BELIEVERS ENQUIRY”AT NEWMAN HOUSE, ON WEDNESDAY, 8 APRIL 1998
For Christians of every denomination, this week – Holy Week - is one of the most significant weeks of their calendar. Indeed, for our Jewish brothers and sisters it is the Passover – and for them too it is a major celebration of their religious beliefs. Also this week, our politicians and their teams are working under great pressures as they try to find a solution to the divisions and difficulties that have bedevilled relationships between communities and families on this island - and indeed on these islands - for the last three decades. I am sure that I speak for everyone here in sending them our prayers and wishes for a successful outcome to this difficult process – and our hopes that they will continue to have the strength and courage to resolve the great issues that they contemplate.
This very day – ‘Spy Wednesday’ – is a day when Christians recall the betrayal of Christ by one of his own – Judas - one of the chosen twelve. In recalling the dramas and joys of Holy Week, we all reflect on our ethos – on our interpretations of the basic Christian message – as reflected in our different denominations. It is significant too that we are launching the ‘Believers Enquiry’ report at this time of great happenings in the religious and political domains. The report is the culmination of a process of “introspective examination” by the participants of themselves and of their religious organisations - and consideration of the “challenge of being reconciled with those of other traditions”.
To the extent that it has spawned these in-depth analyses and self-analyses – it has been a therapeutic process of reconciling with the self – with the Church - and with fellow Christians. It has involved a high level of commitment to the process of reconciliation which, as the report’s commentary says, “may sometimes leave them vulnerable to the charge of ‘letting the side down’”. It is quite clear from the report that participants were “willing to face up to their personal shortcomings and to faults in their own organisations and in the attitudes of those around them in their respective communities”. This willingness is a very positive indication of the preparedness of believers to accept that fault may well lie within – or some of it anyhow!
To the complete outsider, the conflict on this island must look odd – especially as the identifying feature of each side is ostensibly their religious persuasion - yet all sides profess to be Christian. The question that the outsider might well be forgiven for asking is “why with so much Christianity about, can people be so un-Christian?”. This question, however, is not as naive as it might sound. Surely, it behoves all of us to look at what we say – at what we practice – at what we profess – and compare that with the basic gospel message of love. Surely the real place for the Christian denominations is as wagers of peace – of removers of barriers and divisions. That is not to say that we should eschew our church or our denomination – to try to find a ‘fundamentalist’ Christianity that will supersede them. It is merely to suggest that each of us on this island should look firstly to ourselves – and then to our church – to see if change is required – to see if our files need to be updated.
Over the last two thousand years, Christianity has seen many ‘families’ established. Time brings change – and change is the only constant. It stands to reason therefore, that we should be prepared to change in the light of new experiences and new thinking. As Newman said “to live is to have changed, but to be perfect is to have changed often”. The ‘Believers Enquiry’ was a process of reconciliation that required change – changes of heart – changes of view – and changes in attitudes.
As we approach a new millennium in a modern Europe where political and economic barriers have been eroded or removed – and as we are on the brink of a new set of relationships between the people of these islands – it is timely for all of us to find a place in our hearts for others – for those with different views and opinions – for those whom we have been told are ‘not on our side’. The last three decades have brought much division and hurt – much fear and hatred. There are victims and oppressors on every side. Nobody has a monopoly on ‘victimhood’.
The ‘belivers Enquiry’ was the start of a process that should continue – a process that should embrace all of us in turning over all the stones – in examining who was hurt – why they were hurt. As the South African experience has shown – it is not an easy process – but it is a healthy process. There are many conflicts to be resolved – many ghosts to be flushed out. This report will form a very solid foundation for Christians to engage in that process – to be identified with the solution rather than with the problem.
Finally, I would like to commend Colum Kenny who has done such a fine job in editing the report. I would also like to pay tribute to those who made submissions and to those who engaged so fully with the process – even to the extent of running the risk of ‘letting the side down’. There is an appropriate reading from the prophet Isaiah for this day, part of which reads “For the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been confounded; therefore I have set my face like flint; and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near”.