Sectarian attacks on churches, schools and homes in the North have been condemned as immoral by the leaders of Ireland's four main churches.
Leaders of Ireland's four main churches
Following a meeting with Northern Secretary Peter Hain at Stormont to discuss a summer of violence in Belfast, north Antrim and elsewhere, Catholic Archbishop Sean Brady, Church of Ireland Primate Archbishop Robin Eames, Presbyterian Church leader the Rev Harry Uprichard and Methodist leader the Rev Desmond Bain condemned all attacks.
They said: "The present level of violence on our streets is totally unacceptable.
"On behalf of our churches and members we condemn any words or actions which cause danger to anyone because of their religious or political identity.
"Attacks from any source on churches, schools, halls, homes, the elderly and the young cannot be justified, excused or accepted.
"Apart from their criminality such actions are immoral."
The church leaders urged all those with influence in the community to join them in condemnation and to reach out to all communities.
They also urged people to not utter any word or do anything which would increase fears.
"There is no substitute for resolute and even handed police action to bring to justice those who are engaged in, encouraging or assisting any form of violence at this time," they added.
In recent months, Catholics in Democratic Unionist leader the Rev Ian Paisley's north Antrim constituency have come under a sustained campaign of intimidation and violence.
There have been petrol and paint bomb attacks on church property and Catholic homes in Ballymena, Ahoghill and Rasharkin.
Police have issued Catholic families in the area with fire blankets following sustained attacks.
After the talks, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said he had discussed with the church leaders a number of measures which could be taken to address sectarian violence.
"We are absolutely united, standing together to say this grizzly violence - sectarian but also between loyalist groups - must end," he said.
"This is staining the whole reputation of Northern Ireland at a time when Northern Ireland and its people are moving forward into a period of much greater prosperity, stability and political optimism than has been the case for many decades.
"We have got to put it behind us. We have got to stop this kind of violence. "We are all united, the churches and the government, in this and have agreed a whole series of measures which will be taken forward in the next weeks and months."