Cardinal Seán Brady and Archbishop Alan Harper joint statement on the situation in Gaza

30 Dec 2008

Joint statement on the situation in Gaza from Archbishop Alan Harper and Cardinal Seán Brady

The Most Revd Alan Harper, OBE, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland and Cardinal Seán Brady, Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, today issue the following statement:

As pilgrims together for peace, earlier this year we visited the land of the Holy One. It is, therefore, with distress and deepening concern for all innocent victims that we have followed the unfolding tragedy of Gaza. We call upon the authorities in both Israel and Gaza immediately to disengage and cease all hostilities to enable a permanent ceasefire to be negotiated. Only when violence has ceased will it be possible to begin to negotiate a peace that will last.

We call upon all people of faith to pray for all caught up in the conflict. We also call upon the international community and particularly the United States and the European Union to bring maximum influence to bear to end all violence immediately and to create conditions that will lead to a just peace for Palestinians and Israelis alike.

Ends

Further information:
Martin Long, Director of the Catholic Communications Office (086 172 7678)