Church Leaders unite around GFA Anniversary

Church Leaders have united in prayer around anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

The Agreement was signed April 10, 1998.

"It was a political deal designed to bring about the end of ‘the Troubles’, which, after nearly thirty years of violence and conflict on the streets of Northern Ireland, had resulted in more than 3,500 deaths," said the church leaders in a joint statement issued this week. They include The Most Reverend Eamon Martin, The Most Reverend John McDowell, The Right Reverend Dr John Kirkpatrick, The Reverend David Nixon, and The Right Reverend Andrew Forster.

"This year marks twenty-five years since the historic agreement was signed but the reality is that people from different parts of the community will approach this anniversary with mixed emotions. We can all be thankful that many lives were no doubt saved as a result of the Agreement but the relative peace that it brought came at a cost. Prisoners, those serving time for murder, were released back into the community and were able to return to their families, while victim’s families had to show tolerance and acceptance, despite the reality that their loved ones would never return home."

They add: "We must remember that the signing of the Agreement was not the end of the journey to peace in Northern Ireland. It marked simply the first faltering steps down a very long road to a new, brighter, and shared future. That road will continue to be shaped by tolerance and respect for our differences, and a recognition of the need for greater understanding and reconciliation.

"The principles of the Agreement were based on ‘partnership, equality and mutual respect’. As we reflect on how far we have travelled, we must fully appreciate the sacrifices that were made as we capture a vision for what lies ahead.

"In the journey from Good Friday to Easter, from death to new life, as people

of faith we believe that love is stronger than hate and that the light of hope

shines brightly in the darkness."