Paisley protests against Catholic Primate

The DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, led 100 members of his Free Presbyterian Church in a demonstration against the Catholic …

The DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, led 100 members of his Free Presbyterian Church in a demonstration against the Catholic Primate, Archbishop Seán Brady attending the Presbyterian Church in Ireland's General Assembly in Belfast last night.

Dr Paisley said Dr Brady should not have been invited as he was the representative of Pope John Paul II. According to the Presbyterian Church's own articles of faith Pope John Paul was the "anti Christ" said Dr Paisley.

Dr Paisley complained the newly installed Presbyterian Church Moderator, Dr Ken Newell, who invited Dr Brady to last night's installation was not acting according to the rules of the Presbyterian Church. Dr Paisley said had the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church been allowed to make the decision it never would have invited the Catholic Primate.

When Dr Newell entered Presbyterian Church House in Central Belfast last night the protesters shouted at him "Shame", "Traitor", and "Judas".

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Dr Paisley said that Dr Newell, by inviting the Catholic Primate, was breaching the Westminster Confession of Faith. "We have a perjurer as the moderator for what he has done", he said.

Dr Paisley said he had no personal antipathy to Dr Brady. His protest was a matter of religious conviction.

Gerry Moriarty

Gerry Moriarty

Gerry Moriarty is the former Northern editor of The Irish Times