The Church Of Ireland
Press Release

The Right Reverend Paul Colton, Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, speaking at the annual Civic Eucharist in Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral in the presence of the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Damian Wallace and other civic leaders, on today Saint Patrick's Day spoke of the achievements of the modern Ireland, but warned of dangers from within ourselves which may jeopardise those advances. He also spoke about the need to affirm core Irish values and about our Celtic Christian origins as a common heritage for all Irish Christians a springboard, therefore, to a new togetherness.

Challenges to the achievements of Irish Society

He said "More than the vagaries of economic fluctuations or political stability or even international factors over which we have no control, I believe the greatest danger to what has been achieved comes from within, from ourselves.

What we have attained is most jeopardised by taking it for granted; by assuming it's a right; by greed, by apathy or by unfettered individualism."

Need to affirm core Irish Values
Community, Hospitality to the Stranger and Compassion

"We affirm today core values that have brought Ireland to this moment of achievement, and have made us what we are the value we place on community life, the importance we attach to our open door and the place for the stranger at our table of hospitality; our compassion for the weak and vulnerable."

A Challenge to Irish Christians to create a new ecclesiastical reality in Ireland

"In a week when Pope John Paul II has reflected penitentially on the wrongs of the Church over the centuries, Saint Patrick's Day challenges the churches in Ireland to a new beginning as well.

We have the opportunity in a new Ireland, having learnt the lessons of the intervening centuries, to create a new ecclesiastical reality marked by togetherness, reconciliation and service.

Such new beginnings can start by journeying together to the place of first beginnings to our common Celtic Christian inheritance."