Myanmar situation is warning to every society, says Irish archbishop

Published: 2007-10-02

DUBLIN, Ireland (CNS) -- The situation in Myanmar is a warning to every society in the world, said Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, who visited the country's capital in 1992 as part of his work as secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. The archbishop described Myanmar's ruling military regime as corrupt, cynical and devoid of any ideology except staying in power. He spoke Oct. 1 in a homily delivered to judges, lawyers and court personnel at the annual Mass marking the start of the new law term. The archbishop referred to a quote from St. Augustine that Pope Benedict XVI used in his 2006 encyclical, "Deus Caritas Est" ("God Is Love"): "A state which is not governed according to justice would be just a bunch of thieves." "If we want an example of this, we can look at the tragic situation unfolding in these days in Burma," said Archbishop Martin, using the former name of Myanmar. "Burma is a country I know personally and for which I have for years had a great interest and concern."

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