Nothing justifies terrorism but it flourishes where human rights are trampled on, a concelebrant of the September 11th memorial Mass in St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin, said yesterday.
Dr Raymond Field, Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin, was the chief concelebrant of the Mass. It was attended by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and about 850 people.
Quoting Mr Martin Luther King jnr, Dr Field said we must come to realise that "wars are poor chisels for carving out peaceful tomorrows".
Dr Field called for new and creative initiatives to relieve "the scandalous situations of gross injustice, oppression and marginalisation".
The September 11th attacks had changed forever the way we lived, he said, but they also showed us that we were "one human family. We are all brothers and sisters".
The Mass was also concelebrated by Father Vincent O'Connell, a Brooklyn-based priest visiting Ireland, Mgr Miguel Maury Bundia, secretary to the Papal Nuncio, and Father John Delaney, administrator at the Pro-Cathedral.
The chargé d'affaires at the US Embassy, Ms Jean Benton Fort, read the first reading while Dublin fireman Mr Brian Murray read the prayers of the faithful.
Some 50 members of the Dublin Fire Brigade attended to pay tribute to hundreds of New York colleagues who died in the attack.
The Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto, was present, as were members of the Diplomatic Corps. Politicians included Mr Tom Kitt, Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, and his predecessor, Ms Liz O'Donnell TD, as well as the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, and Mr Trevor Sargent, Green Party leader.
Also in attendance were the Garda Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne, the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieut Gen Colm Mangan and Lieut Dermot O'Connor, representing the President, Mrs McAleese.
Cardinal Desmond Connell was unable to attend as he was on the Dublin diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes. He will celebrate the international Mass there today.
Mr Finbar Coughlan and his wife Bridget were among those who carried the gifts of bread and wine to the altar. Mr Coughlan's late brother, Martin Coughlan (53), was one of 150 carpenters working on the highest floors of both Twin Towers when they were attacked.
The hymns were sung by Father Liam Lawton and Ms Mary Flynn. Some members of the congregation were visibly moved when a lone piper played Amazing Grace during Communion.
Afterwards, Mr Finbar Coughlan praised the organisers of the Mass. "It was beautiful, a lovely ceremony," he said.
The singer, Ms Anne Bushnell, who wore a jumper featuring the American flag, said the ceremony was moving. "It was wonderful, the music and readings, everything. I found it quite emotional."
Her brother, Mr Peter Kavanagh, is a fireman in Phibsboro, Dublin, and her son and his family live in the US.
