Graffiti ‘grotesque’ says Minister of First Derry

In a simply worded statement, the Minister said: “ While we can’t stop birds from flying over our heads, we can stop them from building nests in our hair.

“Clearly, as Churchill once said ‘no one pretends that Democracy is perfect or all wise’ there are defects associated with living in a free society and the appearance of grotesque grifitti, following Ronan Kerr’s death, expresses this eloquently. As members of the same human race sharing time and space within Northern Ireland, we will not be influenced by the misguided behaviour of a few. Rather we well intentionally focus on the preferred will of the overwhelming majority of the population, which is to build good relations and a better shared future.

“Despite therefore, the worst that evil people can do, we will stand shoulder to shoulder together for with God’s help we will overcome and goodness will be seen to be stronger than evil,” he said.

Service

During worship at First Derry Presbyterian Church on Sunday Rev Latimer, deviated from his normal format to refer to the tragic death of PSNI Officer Ronan Kerr and to share the following sentiments with the congregation:

“This past week has been one of considerable anguish, pain and sadness. People have continued to lose their lives in an unstable Ivory Coast; UN workers have been brutally killed in Afghanistan, while in Northern Ireland the recent widespread disruption and irritating inconvenience created by a ‘viable’ device and elaborate hoax bombs in both Belfast and Derry/Londonderry, has regrettably culminated in the death of a young Police Officer in Omagh!

“On Saturday morning I was sharing my painful Afghanistan story with a large gathering of men assembled for a fund raising breakfast on the outskirts of Omagh. Towards the end of my presentation I drew attention to the political progress that has been achieved within Northern Ireland. Very deliberately I urged everyone present to remember to pray for the PSNI who I said were currently under a severe level of threat from dissident republicans. Little did I think that within a few hours of making that request and close to where we had met, the dissidents would strike and kill!

Anxious to co-exist

“Strong words of condemnation have been spoken. Regardless of the language used in robust statements from politicians, church leaders and community activists, the reality is, that within our borders there is an evil runt of people who are not prepared to come in from the cold and become part of an evolving six counties, where Catholics, Protestants, Nationalists, Unionists, Republicans and Loyalists are increasingly anxious to co-exist rather than co-annihilate.

“With an election drawing near, it would be so easy and sadly even so natural for politician’s etcetera to indulge in the unhelpful language of blame. More than ever before, public statements must be measured; in other words people choosing to express an opinion publicly should choose words that will heal rather than use words that will wound. Furthermore, it would be conducive to the success of our fledgling peace process if politicians, rather than continuing with their unimpressive media grandstanding performances would, upon their return to Stormont following the May elections, pledge to co operate with each other regardless of past individual histories, in the interests of building a better shared future for every citizen.

“Let us now within this sacred space pause to remember the family of Constable Ronan Kerr, who joined the PSNI to do good things for the whole community. Let us moreover remember the PSNI throughout Northern Ireland and as we pray, may we never forget, that “the Lord’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save, or is his ear dull, that it cannot hear.”(Isaiah 59:1).

“Let us pray: Heavenly Father you feel the pain of hurting people in the Ivory Coast, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland. On the stretcher of faith we commit into your care all whose hearts are broken, whose minds are confused and whose spirits are bleeding. Enfold them in your divine love, that in the midst of their sorrow they may find your presence and your peace. Lord in your mercy hear our prayer!”