Auteur(s) : CLERMONT Jean-Arnold de;
Paris, January, 21st, 2002
Le Président :
Jean-Arnold de Clermont, Pasteur
Church of Ireland
Presbytérian Church of Ireland
Irish Council of Churches
Dear friends,
Keeping in memory the many links between our churches in France and the churches in Ireland, for so many years, and precisely the close link between the "Eglise Réformée de France" and the "Presbyterian church in Ireland", I send you the message in the name of the people of our churches distressed by new acts of violence perpetrated in your country.
This message is a sign of fraternity and hope in the ministry of your churches.
May the love of God guides you as you face in your mission of compassion and peace.
Jean-Arnold de Clermont
President of the Protestant Federation of France
Letter addressed to the Christian churches of Northern Ireland, on the occasion of the World Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
As the week of prayer for Christian Unity opens, we turn to you, brothers and sisters of the Protestant and Catholic churches of Northern Ireland. We are deeply distressed by the news we hear on the radio: the intolerable threats by the "red hand" extremists, towards certain professions in the Catholic community, post office employees and teachers. Some of these threats have already been put into effect.
We, as French and European Protestants, feel directly implicated in this so-called and unending war of religion. We are aware of your fears, your tears amidst so much grief, but also your weariness and discouragement to see the failure of the efforts of the peacemakers. We are aware of your joint endeavours, over more than two decades, towards ecumenical dialogue, towards reconciliation and the search for ways to live together. We shared your hope for peace when the Good Friday agreement was signed. We are of course a long way from you, and are not familiar with all the elements of the situation, but we want to express to you our deep-felt solidarity. We say to you, brothers and sisters in the Protestant faith, that we are by your side to foil the plans of the extremists; we say to you, brothers and sisters in the Catholic faith, that we are by your side when you feel threatened, you and your children. We assure you all, Christian brothers and sisters, that we are praying for you and with you for a just peace.
Members of the churches of the Protestant Federation of France
Source(s) : FPF;FEDERATION PROTESTANTE DE FRANCE;
Date de parution : 21 janvier 2002
Fédération Protestante de France - http://www.protestants.org