The international community is now faced with a grave moral challenge. We had already seen a tragedy unfold in Afghanistan in response to the military build-up in that region.
That country, prior to September 11th, was already facing a severe humanitarian crisis, with four million refugees having fled over two decades of civil war, poverty and famine conditions.
Now it is estimated that up to two million people may be displaced in the coming weeks, with all the consequent suffering, including the death of weak, sick and vulnerable people. A further five million people are in need of immediate food aid.
Even at this stage we must ask whether war was the only option? Was every other channel of diplomacy and international action exhausted? Any military response should be in accord with moral principles, notably the norms of a just war - such as probability of success, civilian immunity, and proportionality.
The action of the US government in freezing the economic assets of all those implicated in giving support to the international terrorist groups points the way to other actions of a non-violent policing and judicial nature that could be employed.
The experiences from the Balkans and Rwanda are examples of how those responsible for mass killings and even genocide throughout the 1990s can be successfully brought before the international courts.
The UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, has pointed out that the United Nations already has in place conventions that provide the necessary legal framework for many of the steps necessary to eradicate terrorism, including the extradition and prosecution of offenders and the suppression of money-laundering.
The United Nations Conventions on Terrorism must be utilised to the fullest extent. It is surprising that Ireland has yet to ratify many of these conventions, including the Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombing and the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism. These should be ratified without delay.
Particular responsibility rests with the Government now that it chairs the UN Security Council. At a time of great danger for the world, with dangerous rhetoric in wide usage and divisions between peoples exacerbated, our Government must ensure that in responding to global terrorism, international law is upheld, that innocent people are protected and that hatred is not deepened.
As chairman of Tr≤caire, I am particularly concerned with the demonising of Islam by many people who are ignorant of both the religious beliefs of Muslims and the current political reality.
There is a need for all of us to deepen our understanding of the Muslim and Arab world, particularly at a time when the Muslim population of Ireland is increasing.
We particularly call on Catholics to show respect to Muslims in our country.
Tr≤caire, the agency of the Bishops' Conference. is leading the church response, both in Ireland and internationally, to the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Afghanistan. Since 1992, Tr≤caire has supported local partner agencies working both inside Afghanistan and with Afghan refugees in north-west Pakistan.
This month, Tr≤caire has allocated £300,000 of emergency funds to our local partners to enable them to respond to the needs of refugees and people displaced within Afghanistan.
We must pursue even more vigorously the bringing of a just peace between Palestine and Israel. Wealthier countries should invest heavily in development, education and healthcare in poorer countries, including Islamic ones, and work for the implementation of the humanitarian agenda outlined by the UN summits over the past decade. Especially important, we should strive even more seriously for an inter-religious dialogue, particularly with Islam.
I would urge the people of Ireland to continue in their support of Tr≤caire's work as they respond on behalf of us all to the suffering in Afghanistan.
John Kirby is Catholic Bishop of Clonfert