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Committee’s choice of death rather than life in its contraceptive proposals for African countries for the International Conference on Population and Development to be held in Cairo.
    The anxiety and impatience world disorder creates must be met personally with a spirit of strength. The temptation to shut ourselves off from the magnitude of the problem must be met with the toil of taking one small step at a time. The temptation to look only to our own welfare must be matched with a spirit of love which esteems the dignity, the rights and liberty of each individual and which protects our neighbours against degradation, bondage and injustice. Can we make the tender mercy of God present in a world of violence, oppression and injustice by our active forgiveness?
    And as little individuals faced with such huge problems what can we do? A little story to end – ‘It was a chilly, overcast day when the rider saw the little sparrow lying on its back in the middle of the road. Reining on his mount he looked down and inquired of the little creature, ‘Why are you lying upside down like that?’
    â€˜I heard the heavens are going to fall today,’ replied the bird.
    The rider laughed. ‘And I suppose your spindly legs can hold up the heavens?’
    â€˜One does what one can,’ said the little sparrow.

Northern Ireland
    In Northern Ireland there are some welcome signs of peace:
    1. The major developments in Europe, namely the creation of a Single Market and the drive towards European political union, have profound implications for relations between Great Britain and Ireland. Britain is no longer interested in Ireland from its national security point of view. The forces of history and the forces of economics are marching with great speed in Europe and they will take us along with them. The fear of Ireland’s links with her European enemies once led Britain to colonise Ireland. Now the reverse is happening. Ireland’s renewed links with Europe will draw us not only into friendship with Britain, witness the Anglo-Irish agreement, but into friendship with other European states. As Germany increasingly becomes the economic centre of Europe the Irish population in Germany will increase. The old German-Irish friendships of the early and late middle ages are reawakening. The Irish government should promote these Irish-German cultural links. They could bring German investment in Ireland and the north would certainly look towards a south that is economically sound.
    2. Cultural groups in the north are engaged in a quiet revolution – They are searching deeply in their hearts – Who are we? What are we? Are our traditions necessarily opposed as in the past? Could we share our heritage and enrich one another?
    3. Dialogue is the new bright word. It has burst upon the media with the news that Protestant ministers have engaged in talks with loyalist paramilitaries. We remember, however, that the Secretary of State, Mr Peter Brooke, the former Taoiseach Mr Charles Haughey, and recently Cardinal Cahal Daly, have hinted at a place at the negotiation table for republicans should the IRA call a ceasefire. Now is the time for this dialogue to gain momentum. Church leaders and political leaders can not move the dialogue unless the groundswell of frequent and varied talking on the ground brings them along. On this subject I would recommend that the south should form a Peace Corps, modelled on the good aspects of the American Peace Corps founded by President John F. Kennedy. Peace must not be confined to fine words and fine gestures. Our Christian testimony must be reaffirmed by deeds. This Peace Corps would work for justice and peace. Young professionally trained southern Irish men and women of all religions, and none, could give years to the investigation of complaints of injustice and discrimination in Northern Ireland. They would be the living alternative to the use of violence. By the dynamism of spiritual