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22/08/2018
Pope's Visit To Ireland 'Opportunity For Victims' To Address Issues - SF
The visit of Pope Francis to Ireland this weekend has been welcomed as "an opportunity to meet victims and address issues", by Sinn Féin Deputy Leader Michelle O'Neill.
Ms O'Neill had intended to attend Dublin Castle and the mass in Phoenix Park this weekend, however, the Sinn Féin MLA has suffered a broken leg and will no longer be able to attend.
Speaking ahead of the weekends events, Ms O'Neill, said: "I, like many others, will listen with acute interest to what the Pope has to say on a range of social and religious issues.
"While reflecting on our personal beliefs we must also recognise that as political leaders and as legislators, we have a responsibility beyond our own individual views to deliver equality, rights and respect for all sections of the Irish people.
"We must specifically acknowledge the damage done by the Catholic Church to the lives of many women and children in the mother and baby homes, the Magdalene Laundries and a succession of abuse scandals and cover ups.
"The visit of Pope Francis is an opportunity to address these issues, to meet with victims and survivors, to fully acknowledge their suffering and the damage done, to end the coverups and to commit to full redress, north and south.
"Ireland has changed enormously since the last visit by a Pope to Ireland, politically, economically and socially.
"We now have a peace process and an increasingly progressive, modern and outward-looking society. We must build on this while retaining those positive traditions and values that help to define us and which have withstood the test of time and adversity.
"The visit of the Pope Francis can and should contribute to the new and positive relationship which has been developing between the Irish state and the Catholic Church."
Sinn Féin will be represented by senior Sinn Féin elected representatives, including Conor Murphy who will attend in Ms O'Neill's place.
(MH/CM)
Ms O'Neill had intended to attend Dublin Castle and the mass in Phoenix Park this weekend, however, the Sinn Féin MLA has suffered a broken leg and will no longer be able to attend.
Speaking ahead of the weekends events, Ms O'Neill, said: "I, like many others, will listen with acute interest to what the Pope has to say on a range of social and religious issues.
"While reflecting on our personal beliefs we must also recognise that as political leaders and as legislators, we have a responsibility beyond our own individual views to deliver equality, rights and respect for all sections of the Irish people.
"We must specifically acknowledge the damage done by the Catholic Church to the lives of many women and children in the mother and baby homes, the Magdalene Laundries and a succession of abuse scandals and cover ups.
"The visit of Pope Francis is an opportunity to address these issues, to meet with victims and survivors, to fully acknowledge their suffering and the damage done, to end the coverups and to commit to full redress, north and south.
"Ireland has changed enormously since the last visit by a Pope to Ireland, politically, economically and socially.
"We now have a peace process and an increasingly progressive, modern and outward-looking society. We must build on this while retaining those positive traditions and values that help to define us and which have withstood the test of time and adversity.
"The visit of the Pope Francis can and should contribute to the new and positive relationship which has been developing between the Irish state and the Catholic Church."
Sinn Féin will be represented by senior Sinn Féin elected representatives, including Conor Murphy who will attend in Ms O'Neill's place.
(MH/CM)
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