The Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Eames, issued this statement on Saturday:
On the eve of the planned attendance of Portadown District Orange Order members at Drumcree parish church, I wish to address them in as clear and unequivocal terms as possible.
For years, as they well know, I have attempted with others to encourage an agreement which would allow a solution to the current dispute which respected both traditions and allowed a peaceful arrangement for the future of the Portadown area.
Many have been involved in those attempts. Sadly, to date, no such progress has been possible.
The protest that has been called has allowed violence, intimidation and destruction to be orchestrated by those who have responded to calls for support. Such violence is totally and absolutely unacceptable.
Responsibility for this violence cannot be easily placed on those only who carry it out, leaving others to walk away from responsibility. Peaceful protest is no longer visible - there are those with other agendas.
Evidence of paramilitary involvement at Drumcree and in the disgraceful exhibition of masked men firing shots in Portadown has removed further any integrity this protest may have had.
I see nothing of Jesus Christ in the nightly actions on Drumcree hill or on the roads and streets of Northern Ireland night by night. I see nothing of what decent law-abiding members of the order hold dear in the words of those who call for further protest across the province. Many such members have expressed to me their disgust at what they see in Drumcree.
On Sunday the Portadown District plans to attend morning service at Drumcree Parish Church. I speak as plainly as I can. I do not consider violent protest is in any way appropriate before or after attendance at the worship of Almighty God. I do not consider the integrity of worship is enhanced by bitterness or attacks on the police before or after divine service.
Much of what I have heard and witnessed lately compels me to repeat the three guidelines and conditions enunciated by the General Synod of the Church of Ireland in relation to Sunday's service: 1, respect for the sanctity of worship; 2, respect for church property; 3, obedience to the law.
I request an immediate, clear and unequivocal response from the leadership of the Portadown district to these points together with an equally clear call for all violence to cease immediately. Dr Eames issued the following statement at 3.30 p.m. yesterday: Now that Portadown District LOL No 1 has been afforded the opportunity of public worship by Drumcree parish church, I call on them to fulfil their assurances and to disperse, leave the area and go home.
The calls for peaceful protest must now be backed up by the avoidance and renunciation of any action, acquiescence in any action or the use of words which could support violence in any way. Once more, I express my utter revulsion at any involvement in the protest of loyalist paramilitary members.
This morning innocent lives could easily have been lost in the bomb attack at Stewartstown. I condemn this deliberate attempt to raise tension and threaten lives.
Over the past weeks I have been deeply touched by the risks some people have been willing to take to find a just and honourable settlement. They have included people of influence in both our traditions. I regret more were not willing to join us in that search.
True leaders of their traditions recognise that their genuine efforts are full of risks and are open to criticism and misrepresentation, but they also recognise that their traditions can only flourish in peace and that violent conflict can only bring pain and chaos. Talking and listening is the only real way forward.
The call for a special protest tomorrow, Monday, raises further questions and choices for all of us. Unless those who call for such action can completely guarantee peaceful protest, they not only risk further chaos but the complete discrediting of their cause.
Evidence abounds of how easily protest can be used by those who have other agendas to follow. Such calls do not and cannot absolve those who make them from responsibility for their words.