Martin calls for dialogue following Paris attacks

At a Mass held in solidarity with the people of France, the Archbishop of Dublin called for dialogue and respect following the terrorist attacks in Paris last week, writes Sarah Mac Donald.

The Mass at Dublin’s Pro Cathedral on Tuesday was attended by the Irish president, Michael Higgins, the French ambassador and Jewish, Muslim and Christian religious leaders. It took place following three days of violence by Islamic fundamentalists, which started with the murder of 12 people at the offices of the magazine Charlie Hebdo.

In his homily, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said: “We need to build up a culture of dialogue and respect. We must do it honestly and with the courage to tackle what is wrong in our own hearts, in our own cultures, in our own religious traditions.” He said violence is not less serious or of less concern when it happens in distant places such as the Middle East or in Nigeria.