Irish archbishop calls for summit to address new culture of violence

Published: 2007-07-18

DUBLIN, Ireland (CNS) -- Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin has called on the Irish government to hold a community summit to address what he called "the revolting new culture of violence" in Irish society. "The levels of violence and the repetitions of killings are reaching levels which are truly close to an emergency for our society," Archbishop Martin said July 15 during a Mass in Dublin. "I appeal to the government to convoke a summit of a wide range of leaders in society -- not just those involved in the important work of law enforcement -- but of all those in society who are in a position to forge a new national consensus to address the roots of this violence. "We must take a stand as a society. Too many lives have been wasted, too many families shattered," said the archbishop. "We have had three people killed in violent attacks in Ireland in one weekend," he said, referring to the July 13-15 murders of three men in the area.

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