Facing truth: a televised reconciliation in Northern Ireland

Christian Century, June 27, 2006 by Ronald A. Wells

Stone paused for a long moment. He said he saw a courageous family who lost a loved one many years ago and is still grieving the loss. He saw bravery too, he said, in the family's coming to confront him in public--greater bravery than he could show if positions were reversed. Then, with a hint of kindness from those ominous eyes: "I appreciate Mrs. Hackett's forgiveness for my part in the murder of her husband."

Tutu sensed that the moment for closure was at hand, and said that Sylvia had suggested she might be able to shake hands if there were an honest disclosure of facts and feelings. Tutu asked if this was that time. "It must come from yourselves. And more than from yourselves; it is God who is present at this moment, this moment we could not contrive, that there is mutual healing of all sides." Sylvia rose silently from her seat and walked to where Stone was sitting. She offered her hand, then he offered his. For a moment their eyes met. Stone said, "I'm really sorry." Then their hands unclasped, and Sylvia began to sob and ran from the room, the sound of her heels echoing down the corridor.

Roddy came over, shook hands and said he was glad for the beginning of healing. Stone responded, "I couldn't have done what you've done. You're a better man than I am. Mrs. Hackett is a better person, and a better Christian too." Tutu ended by praying that the participants might continue, by God's grace, in their own healing and in the healing of their land. "It is only because there are people like yourselves that there is hope."

IN SUMMARIZING the experience, Tutu said: "We had some extraordinary moments in the week or so that we were here where it was like something divine had intervened, and it was exhausting but eminently exhilarating."

Some journalists suggested that the three-part program was "'reality TV gone mad." I disagree. I believe that Facing the Truth will reach some who still need to know what happened to their loved ones and why they were killed or maimed. It may also speak to those violent men and woman who have their stories to tell, and who need to tell those stories, at least before the hour of their death when they yearn for forgiveness.

At the same time, I share the concern of Healing Through Remembering, a highly respected group in Belfast that fears that viewers of the programs who are still dealing with personal ills from the social trauma of the Troubles will have their experiences revived with no way to find closure and release. The BBC took this concern into account by giving toll-free numbers for people to call if they wanted counseling help.

In all communities of Northern Ireland, people are only a call or link away from personal help, if needed, or from finding a safe place to tell their stories. Catholics in West Belfast know that the priests and brothers at Clonard Monastery are there for them. Protestants respect the Cornerstone Community and the Fitzroy Presbyterian Church in Belfast, while the Centre for Contemporary Christianity in Ireland exists to provide resources and staff to "enable people to contribute to conflict transformation and reconciliation."