BISHOPS PETER'S DIOCESAN SYNOD ADDRESS 2005

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National concern

A national concern of profound importance is the extremely high rate of suicide in the country in general and in this south-eastern region in particular. I am very conscious as I speak that there may well be persons present who have had to deal with and still are dealing with this most painful issue as a result of its effects, or near fatal effects, in their family, friendship and neighbourhood circles. It is extremely distressing for all concerned.

Our hearts truly go out to all who have been devastated by this all too dreadful reality. It is at a personal level, when I accompany a local rector to the home of such a tragedy, that the awful pain and bewilderment felt by those loved ones left behind becomes virtually unbearable. I want to commend the clergy for the wonderful ministry they exercise within such parochial and community contexts. Questions abound - ‘Why?' ‘Could I have stopped it?' ‘What did I do or say; what did I not do or say?'; 'Why didn't we notice?'; ‘If only I had known what they were going through' .

These and so many more similar and impossibly difficult questions haunt us all for a very long time.

We are left to pick up the pieces as the result of a fatal act by someone in the depth of despair, who believes that death is the best way to face the dark present and the bleak future. That, ‘Lord have mercy on us all' , they are doing us a favour because ultimately, life without them will be better for us, as well as for themselves. Friends, who amongst us is fit to judge such desperate thoughts and actions, made in a mood of deepest despair, depression and great unpredictability? I certainly could not.

But I would like to say three things. First, that from our Church's perspective in Christ, to take one's own life is wrong and can never be accepted as a moral action from a Christian perspective. Secondly , suicide as a private act seeking to end profound, personal pain has immense public implications and only leaves in its wake more anger and pain for loved ones and friends which may never be fully healed.

Thirdly, what is it about our society that this deathly choice is seen by some, but especially by young adult males, as a viable option when confronted by life's inevitable confusion and pain? Where and when it does occur, it must be seen as a judgement on the failure of us all to create a society with Kingdom patterns of caring and of relating. I do not want to burden this major issue of moral and social concern with statistics. However, facts matter and the work of the National Suicide Research Foundation, based in Cork , is very informative in this context.

The most complete statistical Report to hand is that of the national Parasuicide Registry for 2003 (which includes complete records for the whole of our South Eastern Health Board region). It reveals shocking facts. First, the number of persons treated for non-fatal self harm incidents in the Republic, (primarily related to drug abuse or self mutilation), was 8,800 in total; an increase on 2002, with a marked increase amongst men in particular.

Over a five-year period from 1999-2003, there were 2,213 suicides in the Republic, with a male to female ratio of 4-1. In response to this growing personal and communal crisis, I have arranged for the highly qualified team from this National Suicide Research Foundation in Cork , to spend an information and training day with our clergy in October: the 25 th to be precise. However, I urge one and all to ‘watch out for one another' , with attentive care and patient love.

International Concern

Finally, the appalling scenes of the Tsunami's devastating trail of death and destruction were almost beyond belief. I wish to commend the work of our Church's Bishops' Appeal organisation, especially its Education Advisor, Martin O'Connor and our own hard working diocesan representatives, Billy Kingston, Valerie Power and Canon Denis Sandes, for responding so quickly to the appalling need made horribly visible through the media. The Church of Ireland contributed over 1 million euros (excluding the marvellous effort of the Dean of Belfast and his cathedral team). This See raised almost 90,000 euros, which was a magnificent local response.

You will know that our money was sent to the diocese of Colombo in Sri Lanka for the purchase of much needed bicycles and I recently received an official receipt and letter of appreciation from bishop Duleep. The work of relief continues apace of course throughout the world, not least Ethiopia , Sudan and other parts of HIV plagued Africa . Let us not lose our global vision, or our sprit of Christian charity.

Next month in Edinburgh, the leaders of the world's richest nations, the G8, shall gather to discuss the dreadful burden created by debt repayment in the third world and especially in Africa . The Church of Ireland , alongside all the main churches of these islands, is supporting the call to ‘ Make Poverty History', which is itself closely associated with the older Jubilee Debt Campaign. You may be quite familiar with the TV advertisement showing a celebrity clicking his or her fingers every three seconds to illustrate the death of a child as a result of poverty and its related diseases. For example, Sub-Saharan Africa is due to pay $6million dollars in debt repayment alone this year.

But debt-cancellation alone will not solve world poverty . We need to look very closely at the implications of globalisation and free trade on the economic impoverishment of the world's poor and seek to develop and to promote community development and fair-trade projects, nationally and internationally. Equally, good governance is essential to the welfare of the weak and the marginalised, which very often have to shoulder the effects of political corruption at the highest level.

In the light of the worrying statement found in the government's Book of Estimates of last year, I renew again our heartfelt call for a reassessment of its commitment and promise to provide 0.7% of G.N.P. for overseas aid by 2007 . Our Lord did indeed say that ‘You always have the poor with you' (Matt 26:11). But this does not prevent us pouring the healing oil of our plenty into and upon a dry and needy land and people, made like us ‘in his image and likeness' (Gen 1:26). Indeed, our blessed Lord also said ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me' (Matt 25: 40).

May such considerations be echoed in our speaking and thinking today, so that in all things, God may be glorified.

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