Message to America from the Irish Primate Archbishop Sean Brady

The following is the text of a message, sent yesterday by Most Rev Sean Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland to Cardinal Edward Egan, Archbishop of New York and Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Archbishop of Washington. Your Eminence, On behalf of the Catholic Church in Ireland I offer to Your Eminence and to all in your Archdiocese our heartfelt sympathy on yesterday's shameful atrocity. It was an attack directed not only against the innocent, but against all of civilisation and humanity. Yesterday the leaders of the four main Churches in Ireland expressed, on behalf of our church members, our shock and outrage, our sympathy and our sorrow, over the horrendous attack which took place in your country. I wish to repeat those sentiments to you today. We are united with you in your pain and disbelief, in grief and in sorrow. We are praying and will continue to pray for all of you, but especially for those who suffered loss as a result of these barbaric acts. We pray God to show mercy to those who have died, to heal those who have been injured and to console those who have lost loved ones. One can only imagine the depths of hatred, brutality and treachery which inspire such unspeakable evil. We must all work together to oppose it, to address its causes and to try to change the hearts of those who carry it out. Please be assured that special prayers are being offered at this time in St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh, and in churches throughout Ireland, in union with those of your own Cathedral and churches throughout your diocese and the United States. May the love of the Risen Lord console all of you at this terrible time. Yours sincerely, +Sean Brady Archbishop of Armagh