Teen Killed Just for Being Catholic, Says Priest

BALLYMENA, Northern Ireland, MAY 10, 2006 (Zenit.org).- The death of a Catholic teen-ager at the hands of a Protestant gang has shocked residents of Down and Connor, the second largest diocese in Northern Ireland.

"A tragic murder where the victim is a very young boy, killed just because he was a Catholic," said Father John McManus, a Church spokesman in the diocese, when commenting on the death of Michael McIlveen, a 15-year-old from Ballymena, County Antrim, who was beaten to death with baseball bats.

McIlveen was attacked Saturday night and died Monday.

"Our prayers and our minds are with his family, bereaved of the life of this son of theirs, just out of his childhood," Father John McManus continued.

According to the Belfast Telegraph, five people are being questioned by police.

In statements to Italian bishops' SIR news service, Father McManus said, "I am not a politician -- this murder reminds us how tragic the loss of a human life is, the most sacred gift we have.

"We must forsake the political violence of the past and concentrate, all together, on the dignity of human life, every human life."

"This after-Easter time is full of hope and light," added the priest. "We hope we will see daylight in the darkness generated by the death of this very young boy, at this time of ordeal for Michael's family and for all of our community."

The diocese has 300,000 Catholics in a total population of 1 million.