Catholic bishop: Don't forget dead soldiers of 1916

The bishop of Cork and Ross issued the statement as he unveiled a “mass for peace and reconciliation” next month.

In his statement, Bishop John Buckley did not offer a clear and full condemnation of the rebellion – describing its leaders as “people of profound faith”, for example – but most of his statement focussed on the importance of not celebrating violence and of remembering all those who died. His as “refreshing” by Kenny Donaldson of Innocent Victims United (IVU).

“Our Mass will be a time for reflection not celebration,” said the bishop.

“We, as people of faith, pray also for the British soldiers and the Royal Irish Constabulary members who died on the streets of Dublin, many of whom were Irish.

“We will also remember the five hundred and eighty Irish soldiers who died on the Western Front in the First World War during that week. Indeed, some of those who survived received a very cold reception when they returned home.

“We must commemorate 1916 in a way that respects all past differences and does not glorify violence retrospectively. This remembrance will be a sign that the conflict is over...

“There is a thin line between celebration and commemoration. If we only remember one side, we are telling ourselves that the conflict is not truly over.”

He said that the Good Friday Agreement “removed any remaining cause for conflict” – although the spectre of it nevertheless remains, and that Catholics “should be extremely careful” not to do anything to increase tensions in Northern Ireland.

IVU’s Mr Donaldson said: “We welcome Bishop Buckley’s acknowledgement of the significant loss of life to non-republican insurrectionists over the period referred to as ‘The Easter Rising’...

“His referencing of the hundreds of Irishmen who died in the fields of Europe and his acknowledgement that the ‘cold house treatment’ soldiers received when returning from The First World War is both accurate and refreshing.

“Bishop Buckley joins a group of religious leaders who in recent weeks have stated their abhorrence of terrorism and violence and have shown empathy with the suffering of the innocent.”

The mass is due to take place Holy Trinity Church, Father Mathew Street, Cork, at 12:30pm on Sunday April 3.