COULD the leaders of the Christian churches, Catholic as well as Protestant, have done more to halt the spiral of sectarianism which is now manifest every weekend at Harryville? All three leaders of the main Protestant churches have condemned the pickets, the harassment and intimidation of Catholic Massgoers.
But many people feel that what is needed, more urgently than ever now that a massive rally is planned for next weekend, is an act of public witness which demonstrates that Archbishop Robin Eames, the Presbyterian Moderator, Dr Harry Allen, and the President of the Methodist Church, the Rev Kenneth Best, repudiate what is being done in the name of defending Protestant rights.
Much of what has been written about Harryville treats the protests as a grotesque manifestation of atavistic bigotry, incomprehensible in a modern society. But what is happening is only the latest evidence of what Archbishop Eames himself once described as "the cancer of sectarianism" in Ireland, which all the Christian churches deplore but from which, in practice, they all too often avert their eyes as being none of their business.
That must change if we are to have any hope of avoiding a further slide into the bitter tribal hostilities which threaten with the onset of the marching season. At the very least church leaders should come together to make it clear that all acts directed against individuals and groups because of their religious affiliation are unacceptable - the boycott of Protestant shops as much as the triumphalism of some Orange marches.
Sectarianism has always been endemic in the political and religious life of Northern Ireland. But it was a remarkable aspect of the long years of conflict that, even through the worst of the violence, both communities were able to summon resources of grace and generosity which enabled them to reach out to each other across the divide.
Last summer, the bitterness of the marching season, taken together with the breakdown of the IRA ceasefire, seemed to rip away these civilising stratagems for "dealing with the other side" It was as though the fears of both communities precipitated a retreat to the trenches and unleashed previously unacceptable levels of prejudice.
THE institutional churches have failed to rise to this challenge of sectarianism. (I make that statement with some diffidence, for I do not want to offend the very many people whom I have been privileged to meet in both communities who work tirelessly to try to improve mutual understanding.) There have been condemnations at official level of obviously unacceptable incidents - attacks on churches and schools, intimidation, the pickets at Harryville.
Individuals have acted with great courage in opposing sectarian acts. One thinks of Robert Saulters, the new Grand Master of the Orange Order, visiting Harryville to express support for the Catholic congregation, and the impact that has had on moderate nationalists.
What has been lacking has been evidence of a concerted strategy by church leaders to stop the divisions widening. On the contrary, it has seemed that the pervading political pessimism has made it even more difficult for the clergy, particularly at local level, to challenge the prejudices of their particular community.
Thus, Cardinal Daly condemns the use of the boycott against Protestant shopkeepers, but local priests have failed to follow through by preaching on the issue. Even now, it would surely be possible for the new Catholic Primate to issue a pastoral letter to be read in all churches, pointing out that the use of the boycott offends against Christian charity.
The retreat on the Protestant side has been equally fearful and depressing. We know that Drumcree and its aftermath appalled very many members of the Protestant community, North and South, by linking the scenes of violence and disorder at Drumcree church with the defence of Protestant principles.
Members of the Church of Ireland living in this State were particularly offended and, at first, did not hesitate to express their concern. I remember an anguished article in this newspaper by Canon William Arlow, in which he wrote of the church's duty to promote reconciliation between the two communities in Northern Ireland and asked how events at Drumcree had helped in that task.
THE issue of Drumcree and of the Orange marches has been painful and divisive for the Protestant churches, particularly for the Church of Ireland which has a substantial proportion of its members living in the Republic. A number of bishops with dioceses in this State expressed the angry reaction of their own members.
This was met with bewilderment and hurt by many Church of Ireland members living in Northern Ireland who saw the issue as much more complex, central to their own political fears of betrayal. Now, at a time when they needed support, they felt themselves misjudged as bigots and abandoned by their own co religionists living south of the Border.
Even Bishop James Mehaffey of Derry, most ecumenical of churchmen, felt impelled to protest that the issue was "a lot more complicated" than first appearances suggested.
This could have marked the beginning of an extremely important debate, one which might have helped Northern Catholics (as well as Southern Protestants) to a deeper understanding of their unionist neighbours. It has surfaced occasionally since in the Church of Ireland Gazette, but scarcely at all in the mainstream media. This is a great pity. We need to get these issues out into the open.
I know very well that Archbishop Eames and, other church leaders stormed heaven to try to broker an honourable compromise at Drumcree last year. People of goodwill from both communities - and from all churches and none - are even now working to bring about a better outcome to the marching season this time around.
But their efforts will depend on the willingness of ordinary people - members of the Orange Order as well as residents of the Garvaghy Road and other disputed areas - to make a negotiated compromise work. That will only happen if there is strong and principled leadership in the weeks ahead.
The overwhelming majority of people on both sides in Northern Ireland do not want to see a repetition of Drumcree. But this year more than ever, they are fearful about the future and confused about where their loyalties should lie. It is difficult at the best of times to go against the feelings of the tribe and, given what has happened in the intervening period, tensions are more charged than ever this year.
There is a view, repeated endlessly in the media, that a rerun of Drumcree is inevitable. It is hard to feel hopeful about constructive leadership coming from the politicians. That puts an even greater onus on the churches to give a public lead on the issue of sectarianism and to oppose it publicly at every opportunity, by word and deed.