ONE IRELAND PETITION— ST. POPE JOHN PAUL II & BLESSED MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR
Posted By: March 11, 2021
ONE IRELAND PETITION— ST. POPE JOHN PAUL II & BLESSED MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR
“Peace is the fruit of solidarity … Solidarity is not a feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of so many people, both near and far. On the contrary, it is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good; that is to say, to the good of all and of each individual, because we are all really responsible for all.” (St. Pope John Paul II, On Social Concern , Sollicitudo rei Socialis , no. 38). December 30, 1987).
The Pope’s teaching on solidarity and Blessed Martin Luther King, Jr.’s teaching on The Beloved Community provides a beautiful vision for a new Ireland. And, lest we forget, John Paul II also taught — in the words of the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace— “Peace is founded not only on human rights but also on respect for the rights of peoples, in particular the right to independence.” (Page 69. #157).
How many Catholic Bishops in Ireland and Britain passed on that teaching!
In the same section, the Compendium states: “The Magisterium points out the international law ‘rests upon equal respect for States, for each peoples’ right to self-determination and for their free cooperation in view of the higher common good of humanity.’”
The King Center explains: “Dr. King’s Beloved Community is a global vision, in which all people can share in the wealth of the earth. In the Beloved Community, poverty, hunger, and homelessness will not be tolerated because international standards of human decency will not allow it. Racism and all forms of discrimination, bigotry, and prejudice will be replaced by an all-inclusive spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood.”
This is the spirit of the internet “One Ireland Petition” launched by the Irish National Caucus: “Ireland, too, has the right to be One Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” As of March 11, this splendid Petition has been signed by over 26,300 caring and dedicated people—and the number will keep growing and growing.
The guiding principle of the Petition is, of course, solidarity, which St. Pope John Paul II raised to a virtue. And the Petition embodies the four values of the just society: Truth, Justice, Love, and Freedom, all incorporated in The Beloved Community for all of Ireland, north, south, east, and west.
Please sign the Petition —https://www.change.org/IrelandOneNation
As always, it is the regular people of Ireland who have led the way in signing. As far as I know, —and I’ve received hundreds of questions about this—only one MP in the North, and one TD in the South have signed.
—Fr. Sean McManus
