Let the true spirit of Christmas inspire us to seek a better world

Christmas is almost upon us. At the First Christmas, Christ came to bring peace to the world; he came to conquer sin and to set man at peace with god. I hope and pray that your Christmas joy may be rooted in that peace.

The tragedy is that even as you read my letter, Irishmen are pursuing a course which is leading daily to their own destruction, and adding to the toll of death and injury of innocent persons.

The overwhelming majority of the people of this Island want no part in violence, of whatever tradition, so that they may, instead pursue their legitimate aspirations through the processes of democracy.