In his Christmas message the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Walton Empey, has said that even among those who call themselves Christians there are people whose bigotry and sectarian attitudes shut out the light of Christ.
"They are so imprisoned in the dark cells of their own denominations that they are unable to see the light shining in others who do not share fully their understanding of the Gospel."
Jesus, he said, came to enlighten all our hearts in order that we may bring that light to a suffering world and to our suffering communities. "That is one of the wonderful messages of Christmas and it is also the challenge to all Christians."
In his message, the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, Dr John Dixon, has criticised the consumerism associated with Christmas and called "upon all who wish to honour Christ, to look again at their priorities and values . . . We must be careful not to allow the world to squeeze us into the mould of its thinking."
Some shops in Belfast were to be open 24 hours a day, he noted, commenting, "What an orgy of spending we are encouraged to support!" He wondered whether this was the way to happiness or personal satisfaction.
"I think not. Those who have not are made to feel even more impoverished. Many are persuaded by children, pressured by TV advertisements, to go deeply into debt."
The president of the Methodist Church, Rev David Kerr, said, "The good news of Christmas is for everyone, for it declares the universality of God's love to all people irrespective of race, colour, class or creed. Sadly, this great truth has often been obscured in the life of the churches and its implications not always acted upon.
"What a challenge, then, the celebration of Christmas is to the people living in Ireland. God declares his love equally for unionist and nationalist, republican and loyalist; UVF and IRA, along with all other terrorists, are also the objects of God's redeeming love."
