Ireland should lead by example on human rights

Irish Columban Fr Shay Cullen has used the occasion of his receiving the Hugh O’Flaherty Humanitarian Award to call on Ireland to lead by example on human rights.

 

Addressing the audience at the awards ceremony in Killarney, Co. Kerry last weekend, Fr Cullen said Ireland’s commitment to resettle 4,000 refugees fleeing conflict is “an enlightened action” but added that this country “can do more to help those fleeing oppression, war and dire poverty”.

 

“Our mission in years past has been to go out to the developing countries to help the poor and the needy, the endangered and the downtrodden,” he said. “Nowadays, they are here, coming to us in Ireland and in

Europe. They are already among us and we are challenged to have a mission, a duty to reach out to them.

 

Our depth of compassion, empathy and self-sacrifice is challenged by the situation and how well we rise to meet it.”