ARMAGH, Northern Ireland, JULY 4, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Our country faces new challenges now that peace has come, says Archbishop Sean Brady.
Archbishop Brady of Armagh spoke with ZENIT about the changes that have come to Northern Ireland two months after the return to a power-sharing government.
"The climate is more favorable to dialogue and discussion," said Archbishop Brady, president of the Irish bishops' conference.
"The Irish Inter-Church Committee is embarking upon that, looking at its role and seeing in what way we can do more to promote ecumenism and reconciliation," the 67-year-old prelate added.
Archbishop Brady said he hopes the new government leaders will work as hard at ecumenism as they have for peace.
He explained, however, that "there are people who will talk to us about reconciliation and peacemaking but not ecumenism. For example, Dr. Ian Paisley will not engage in ecumenism but he will engage in peacemaking; we have to be aware of these things too."
"There was great joy in the past with the signing of the Good Friday Agreement," he said. But there is joy today "in seeing the structures that were envisaged there actually being established."
"Thanks be to God and to so many people who have helped and prayed all over the world," Archbishop Brady concluded. "There are now seeds of peace since the structures for peace have been established."
ZE07070405 - 2007-07-04