The Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Sean Brady, said yesterday that the blame game would lead nowhere. He was speaking as political leaders argued over the collapse of the deal to restore devolution.
An agreement based on an act seen as humiliation would not help the DUP and Sinn Féin to work successfully together in government, Archbishop Brady insisted. The request for photographic evidence of IRA decommissioning was a request for clarity, he claimed, but the request not to be humiliated was also reasonable.
"Humiliation is one thing, and humility is something else. Humility is built on truth," he said.
"The truth is that here we have parties who have received a mandate from the people and are offering to take on responsibilities for the future government of this country."
Archbishop Brady said an honest acceptance by all sides of what had happened in the past, and an appropriate taking of responsibility, would be a good basis on which to move forward.
"A humble expression of sorrow for the grief that has been caused by all sides would be even better," he said. "If we cannot go the extra mile, let's try to go the extra, perhaps even the final, step. Humility, yes, humiliation, no."
He said the progress made so far had been extraordinary and proved the parties were able and willing to work together.
However, he admitted that the breakdown, so short of the finishing line, was disappointing, and evidence that more trust was needed.
"The lesson may be that all parties who intend to go into government together need not only to talk but to listen to each other," he said.
"In my opinion, the request for photographs is really a request for greater clarity and certainty about decommissioning.
"The question is, if photographs are impossible, what is possible to provide the certainty required? On the other hand, the request not to be humiliated is also reasonable.
"It is a request for people to be treated seriously as partners in government, and to have the rights and dignity of all respected."
Archbishop Brady added that he hoped all sides could overcome their differences to work effectively and peacefully together and form a good government. "The blame game leads nowhere. Just as there is no monopoly of victims, there is no monopoly of blame."