Bishop Harold encouraged by loyalist decommissioning
The Bishop of Down and Dromore, Harold Miller, has issued a statement expressing his encouragement at the recent act of loyalist decommissioning:
It was a great encouragement to hear yesterday of the beginning of decommissioning by three key loyalist groups: the UVF, Red Hand Command and UDA. This is another important stage in the peace process, and their leaders are to be congratulated for leading them in the right direction. There is no need whatever for any paramilitary group in Northern Ireland to hold on to weapons, as we develop political structures and processes which respect everyone in our community. I would plead with those who still have weapons to engage fully in the process of decommissioning, and to work together with others to build a new and respectful future together in this province.
2009 is forty years since the beginning of what we so often euphemistically call the troubles. In the Bible the number forty is often used to speak of a long but complete period. These have been long and tough years, but by the grace of God, our prayer is that they are coming to an end, and the completion of the process of decommissioning is one of the signs of this.