Sir, - The participants in the Northern talks have produced an agreement in which fresh new thinking sparkles and which gives people with differing aspirations a new way forward without loss of face or danger of being overcome. The inspired concept of unity of the people of the whole island comprising two separate administrations, with a choice of British or Irish citizenship or both for those born in the North, having membership of a British/Irish Council - all based on agreement and consent and working with a network of cross-party safeguards - opens the way for a mechanism for positive expression and enriching of the different cultures and traditions without the danger or even the need of devaluing the other.
The participants have made an enormous contribution to the concept of peaceful living for people with a long history of political, cultural and religious diversity, during which time hatred was nourished into a series of dishonourable and violent acts which furthered no cause but brought heartbreak and misery to many. This has been a magnificent achievement. I hope their agreement is accepted by an overwhelming majority in both parts of Ireland.
I think it will be - because, unknown to themselves perhaps, their greatest contribution has been the creation of an atmosphere in which mutual understanding, generosity of spirit, and readiness to accommodate those who have different views is now popular, while inflexibility, disdain for other traditions, lack of readiness to go forward, and diehardness is fast becoming unpopular, out of time and unacceptable to an educated people.
When John XXIII, after his experience of life in Bulgaria, sought to dispel all traces of arrogance from the face of the Catholic Church, he called an Ecumenical Council, now known as Vatican II. This Council laid the foundation for the ultimate unity of all Christian Churches - a unity not yet achieved but progressing - but the very act of calling such a council created almost immediately an atmosphere which made derogatory remarks about any Christian church unpopular and unacceptable. Those who took part in the agreement have done something similar at political level here, and I think this may be its greatest achievement whatever way the referendum may go. - Yours, etc.,
Mgr F. Donnelly PP
Fair Street, Drogheda, Co Louth.