Ireland has witnessed "a frightening and shocking increase" in murders and gangland killings in the midst of an unprecedented increase in wealth, the congregation was told at a Mass marking World Day of Peace yesterday.
The Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, presided at the Mass at St Patrick's Church in Ringsend which was attended by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Vincent Jackson.
In his homily, Fr Ciarán O'Carroll, parish priest of Saggart and Rathcoole, said the State's increased prosperity had brought many blessings, but not peace.
"There is no peace and there will be no true peace in our city and in our country where there is disregard for human rights; where children suffer violence and abuse; where there is incredible cruelty and violence exerted by those who seek to profit from the suffering and addictions of others," he said.
Fr O'Carroll pointed to the deaths of young mothers Donna Cleary and Baiba Saulite and apprentice plumber Anthony Campbell, and said such disregard for life "must haunt and fill all right-thinking citizens of this city with a sense of horror. Dublin deserves better and Dublin is capable of doing better."
He said the congregation was gathering after a weekend that had seen the execution of Saddam Hussein, as well as increased tension in Iraq and the Middle East. "We gather at a time when each of us has a heightened consciousness of the need for peace," he said.
Fr O'Carroll called for greater respect for the environment and said the race for energy supplies globally was blocking development in some parts of the world.
"The destruction of the environment, its improper or selfish use and the violent hoarding of the earth's resources cause grievances, conflicts and wars, precisely because they are the consequences of an inhumane concept of development."
In his opening remarks, Dr Martin spoke of the importance of community. He said the values of strong family sense, good neighbourliness and hard work had contributed to social peace and progress.
"These are values which are never out of date and which we cannot afford to lose," he said.
"We have to propose these to the new generation and lead them to reject a culture of exploitation and self-centredness."
He urged everyone to work to ensure that 2007 would be "the historic year which will mark a new time of peace in Northern Ireland and new bonds of understanding between North and South".
Yesterday was the 40th celebration of World Day of Peace. The Mass was attended by representatives of the political parties and members of the judiciary, diplomatic corps, Defence Forces and Garda.
Mr Ahern said in a statement that he hoped work on the Northern Ireland peace process was near completion, "and that we will then see the real benefits that devolved government can bring to all in the community".
He said that experience in the peace process had shown that "a just and lasting peace is built over time, sometimes slowly, but always with patience and determination".
