SW News: Both the Catholic and Church of Ireland Archbishops of Armagh in Northern Ireland have issued a joint Christmas message in which they emphasized the Word who took flesh. Archbishop Eamon Martin, the Primate of All Ireland, and Archbishop John McDowell of the Church of Ireland having the same title said in their message that the whole life of Jesus was a witness to fundamental truths—that authority is the exercise of power which is morally justified, and, political life is not the servant of any economic or national ideologies. They bemoaned that what is unfurling in Ukraine is the result of these fundamental truths getting sidelined.

The top prelates reminded believers in their letter that they are living in an age that is dubbed as one of “surveillance capitalism”. They said, “We live in an age of algorithms and atomization; a global system of behavior modification which can threaten human nature itself.” The archbishops said the understanding of abundance as it is today is in no way capable of healing the rifts in society. Unless there is solidarity and community, society will not be truly democratic.

Both archbishops reminded believers that the advent of the Word shows everyone the primacy of persons and their solidarity. The prelates said that the Light that illuminated the world during Christmas enlightens everyone who has been born or will be born. Jesus Christ, they said, was the first person in the history of the world to consider mankind as one.

They said the manner in which Jesus came into this world is vital to His vocation and ours. The archbishops told the faithful that Jesus was born into an obscure part of the Roman Empire and into a people looked down upon by many. He also shunned all public positions and ties of high office. In spite of His austerity, Jesus had all the riches of the Heavenly Father.