Irish men and women in both parts of Ireland, along with the many friends of Ireland in America and around the world, celebrate this year's Feast of St. Patrick at a time of great hope and equally great uncertainty.

Last year's Good Friday Agreement offers the best hope in a generation of resolving thirty years of conflict and of building a more just and peaceful society in Northern Ireland; but seemingly intractable disputes over paramilitary arsenals increasingly threaten the political solution that received overwhelming support in last May's referenda by citizens of the Irish Republic and by citizens of Northern Ireland, nationalists and unionists alike.

While there is a real impasse as regards the formation of the Executive for Northern Ireland, there is a wider agenda flowing from the Good Friday Agreement which must not be overlooked or "parked." It deals with policing, equality and human rights. It must also be pursued vigorously and energetically. In view of the murder of the prominent human rights lawyer Rosemary Nelson in a car bombing Monday, uneasiness about the loss of impetus in the peace process seems justified.

A way forward must be found to resolve the current impasse and to implement all aspects of the Good Friday Agreement. As the Church and Government Committee of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland points out, this remarkable agreement "does not represent defeat or assimilation but is rather a political accommodation which could be a way out of the darkness of the last thirty years into a better future." Archbishop Sean Brady of Armagh, president of the Irish Bishops' Conference, rightly observes that, by their overwhelming support for the agreement, the people of Ireland "have chosen the path of cooperation, equality and mutual respect as basis for future relationships."

It is ultimately the responsibility of the political leaders of Northern Ireland to carry out the mandate voted by their fellow citizens from both communities. What is needed is a generous measure of courage, determination, perseverance and willingness to engage in genuine dialogue for the sake of the common good -- the same qualities that produced the Good Friday Agreement. But continued American engagement and support for the peacemakers remain vital, as does the indispensable support of the British and Irish governments.

Americans can support the peacemakers in Northern Ireland in several ways:

• We must make clear that no group that threatens or refuses to disavow violence will enjoy our support. We cannot claim to support peace in Northern Ireland if we rationalize or justify the indefensible resort to violence by paramilitaries on either side. A commitment by all groups to exclusively peaceful and democratic means is the only way forward.
  
  
• We must clearly acknowledge that there are two principal communities and traditions, each deserving of equal dignity and respect, in Northern Ireland. Each is enriched by and depends on the other; each is impoverished by discord and division between them. Unionists and nationalists alike can achieve authentic self-determination only by affirming the other community's legitimacy and rights, and by accommodating diversity through dialogue and compromise. Both communities have a common stake in greater social and economic justice, an end to discrimination, and greater respect for human rights of all kinds. Justice and peace for both nationalists and unionists are necessary to secure a future of hope for all the people of Ireland.
  
  
• Finally, we must continue to contribute to peace in Northern Ireland through the many practical initiatives already undertaken or in prospect. American businesses that invest in Northern Ireland are creating desperately needed jobs, especially for those who suffer discrimination and lack of opportunity. The Business Education Initiative brings some 150 college students, most from disadvantaged areas, for one year of business studies at 90 Presbyterian, Catholic, Methodist, and Episcopal colleges throughout the United States. The International Fund for Ireland and many private funding programs support valuable cross-community development and reconciliation efforts. These and many other practical acts of solidarity are indispensable to peace in Northern Ireland.

John F. Cullinan, S.J.
U.S. Catholic Conference
3211 Fourth Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20017
(202) 541-3445 (ph)/541-3339 (f)

Reverend Henry Postel
Presbyterian Church, USA
15120 Turkey Foot Road
Darnestown, MD 20878
(301) 948-9127 (ph)/948-9135

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