Invest in peace not violence and hopelessness: Bishop Good

He voiced this during his address to the Derry and Raphoe diocesan Synod on October 21, 2010.

In his speech he identified the serious barriers to progress and development in the community posed by "misguided efforts by some to create an atmosphere of fear, of menace and of hopelessness through terrorist violence."

He also reflected on those who choose to ignore the democratically expressed wish of the people, both in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland, "who have clearly expressed their view that the way forward is one of peace and must never again be one of violence.

Bishop Good condemned attempts at a return to violence, In doing so he urged politicians to work "in such a way that it becomes clear - not least to the dissidents - that political debate and political decision-making for the common good can and does work."

In his remarks he stressed that "it must not be the case that a vacuum is created in which political impasse and stagnation lead to on-going frustration and a lack of confidence in the political process."

In his address Bishop Good spent considerable time considering the constructive role that faith communities have to play in society.

The diocesan Synod took place in Clooney Hall. With the location for the synod in mind he commented: "In this city only a few hundred yards from here, the new Peace Bridge is at an exciting stage in its construction.

"As Christian people, we affirm our desire to work with those who have a heart for constructing peace and the common good, and we urge anyone who entertains even the possibility of using violence and destruction to leave that misguided path of hopelessness and instead to invest."