A chara, - If we had known what was about to happen to the two schoolgirls who were murdered in England recently, or what was to happen in the US on September 11th last year, and if we then failed to do all in our power to avert these events, it would have been criminal - and sinful.
We know about southern Africa. Well publicised reports over many months suggest that between 10 million and 20 million people - twice to four times the population of Ireland - face imminent famine and starvation. Many aid agencies, religious and non-religious, are doing all in their power, but the resources made available to them are clearly woefully inadequate. The resources and means do exist in our world, but it appears that political leaders lack the will to take adequate effective action immediately.
Our various Christian churches, if they will act together, have the personnel, resources, and organisation to make a difference. Church leaders need to act now, locally and globally. They can:
1. Contact other leaders of our own church and of all the Christian churches in Ireland now to arrange combined action immediately. This can be done through existing agencies and in any other ways necessary to achieve what has to be done.
2. Contact local and national leaders of all Christian churches in Europe, and impress on them the urgency of combined action immediately.
3. Contact local and national leaders of Christian churches throughout the world and impress on them that same sense of urgency.
Given the situation, it is preferable to over-react than to under-react. There are many difficulties. We need to acknowledge these, and act anyway.
Individually we can do little. We must come together as Christian churches to act now. I respectfully and publicly ask all our bishops and other church leaders to take action as a matter of highest priority. Our faith demands it. If every bishop and church leader received 1,000 letters requesting this, would it make a difference?
Our united action can show that our faith and justice and love are not mere words, but are real and active. Our united action can show the compassionate face of Jesus Christ to our world. We cannot fail these sisters and brothers of ours in such great need. They cannot wait. - Yours, etc.,
PÁDRAIG McCARTHY,
The Presbytery,
Avoca,
Co Wicklow.