The Church of Ireland
Diocesan Press Release

The address of the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Reverend Dr. Walton N. F. Empey, given in the Pro-Cathedral on Friday 14th September 2001 at 11.00 a.m. on the occasion of the National Day of Mourning for the American Atrocities.

Those of us who are old enough will remember exactly where we were and what we were doing on the occasion of President John F. Kennedy's assassination. There is no doubt that Tuesday, 11th September, 2001, was a dark day for the people of America and for millions of people throughout the world and that it will remain firmly embedded in our minds until the day we die. A far-fetched imaginative film could not match the actual horror that unfolded before our eyes as our hearts beat in anguish at the unbelievable scenes of human agony and destruction.

Prayers flashed across international boundaries as all people of goodwill, lifted their hearts to Almighty God for the American people and in particular for the husbands, wives, children, fathers and mothers of those who lost their lives in the most appalling circumstances. They need to know that they are not alone in their grief but are and will be supported in prayer at this dreadful time. It is important that this message be conveyed to them as we try as far as is humanly possible to share in the burden of their grief. So many of us Irish people have such strong ties with America and its people that it all comes home to us with particular force.

But our prayers must also go beyond even those who are suffering loss to all the people of New York and Washington and for the entire nation. Symbols are important, very important and so an attack as such strikes at the very heart of all Americans. The cold, calculated clinical attack has shocked an entire nation and through them the free world. We pray that they may turn anew to God, not only as they struggle now with shock, anger, despair and the human desire for revenge but in the months and years to come. They are an extraordinarily resilient people as they have shown again and again and if the resilience is grounded in faith in God they will have nothing to fear.

Our prayers must also be for those in leadership and in particular President George W. Bush. We can only guess at the huge pressures he has to endure by the holding of that office and for the terrible decisions that will inevitably confront him. He may be the most powerful man in the world but let us not forget that he is also a human being with all the frailties which that implies. We say in all sincerity "May God help you to bear the burden that has fallen on your shoulders and on the shoulders of those who advise you and may the Holy Spirit guide you through the labyrinth of difficulties that lie before you".

There is one other group that we must not forget, the rescueworkers, particularly the firemen and police who despite the grief of loss of so many brave comrades and friends have still to face the grim and dangerous task of rescue and the recovery of bodies. They will, in the next few weeks, see sights that no human being ought to see and we pray fervently that God may give them the strength and the courage to endure the terrible task that lies ahead of them.

A few moments ago I mentioned the importance of symbols. The great symbol of Christianity is the Cross of Christ. It is a bare cross to remind us of the suffering of Jesus but it is also an empty one to remind us that out of darkness came light and out of death came Resurrection. We pray that all Christians in America will keep their eyes on that symbol of hope in these dark days and in the days to come.

Finally may the souls of those who died in New Year and Washington and those who endured the terror of being passengers in the hijacked aircraft rest in the Peace of God. Amen