New Year’s Message
From Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin and Glendalough
‘In the current moment of economic hardship it is important to continually look for the political and economic measures which are most likely to foster social inclusion and to identify and expose clearly those factors which leave men and women increasingly in a situation of precariousness or exclusion.
‘But it is not a question of simply pointing to what Government should and can do. We have to rediscover a sense of Christian neighbourliness of the every day. We have to rebuild stronger relationships with neighbours, particularly the elderly and most vulnerable, in an effort to restore true community spirit. We have to break down some of the barriers of personal privacy which we rightly treasure, to allow all of us to realise the fundamental need of solidarity, support and of good neighbourliness.
‘Humility is the key to everyday Christian solidarity. Humility is a different road to that of the haughtiness of the corrupt which has led to so much hardship in our country. Humility is a different road to that of the arrogance which has given rise to a horrible cycle of criminal violence which tarnishes our cities. Humility is a different road to that of the indifference and lack of caring which leads to hopelessness.’