CHURCH REACTION:FINDINGS OF the Saville report on Bloody Sunday have been welcomed by Ireland's Catholic bishops who also acknowledged the pastoral leadership shown by Protestant Church leaders in their visit to Derry yesterday.
The Irish Episcopal Conference concluded its three-day summer meeting at Maynooth yesterday.
In a statement on Saville they said they “prayed for those who lost their lives and were injured in Derry on Bloody Sunday, January 30th, 1972”. They welcomed “the findings of the report of the Bloody Sunday inquiry and we share the joy and relief of the families of those killed and injured on Bloody Sunday. “
They acknowledged “the hurt and pain of the many people who lost loved ones on these islands during the course of the Troubles. We continue to carry them all in our thoughts and prayers. We acknowledge the witness of Bishop Edward Daly, and the many clergy, whose part in Bloody Sunday and its aftermath is deservedly recognised.”
They saluted also “all the politicians who have contributed in leadership roles and to the building of a solid peace” and they “acknowledge the pastoral leadership shown by the representatives of the other Christian Churches as demonstrated by their visit to Derry today”.
They called “on all those who are still committed to violence to recognise the futility of this approach and we plead with them to turn to a constructive political path to achieve their goals”.
On Tuesday, the Catholic Bishop of Derry Séamus Hegarty welcomed “the unequivocal and strong language” used in the report “to confirm the innocence of the victims”.
He paid tribute “to the many people who were on the ground caring for the victims on that dark day and who did so at considerable risk to their own safety. I include Bishop Edward Daly and the many clergy who ministered to the victims . . . in the aftermath of the shootings.”