Archbishop’s words commendable

WE congratulate the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, Most Rev John Neill, on his courageous and thought-provoking criticism of the US military and CIA use of Shannon airport.

The archbishop’s words have not only drawn attention to one of the most morally unacceptable political scandals in the history of the Irish state, but have also highlighted the deafening silence of other churches and their failure to speak out for the victims of war and military aggression.

The silence of the Catholic bishops on the Government’s complicity in the Iraq war and their failure to criticise Government policy on this issue does a great disservice to its congregation and to many of its clergy who have actively campaigned against this illegal war.