Sir, - One would think that the teaching and example of Jesus, which they profess to uphold, would have been uppermost in the minds of Orangemen coming from a Christian church service. The Gospel is perfectly straightforward "Seek peace and ensue it" by talking to all, even to those whom you may dislike, without preconditions or qualifications as Jesus did, in the spirit of compromise and generosity.
Never respond to a lack of generosity in like measure, obey the law and don't make life difficult for others, e.g. the police. Surely some direct and firm guidance along these lines should have been given to the Orangemen by our Church leaders taking the initiative.
In the Orange mind, unionism is synonymous with Protestantism. Hence the Union flag appears on church towers only during the Orange marching season, not on all national occasions, which demeans both Protestantism and the flag. The widespread perception of Protestantism as the religious dimension of unionism was vividly reinforced by pictures on TV of Drumcree parish church amid a sea of Union flags and Orange banners. With pictures like this throughout the world, republicans may relax and enjoy the spectacle of unionists dismantling the Union.
Likewise, Roman Catholicism is widely perceived as the religious dimension of nationalism or republicanism, also with its share of tribal hatred, readily available for exploitation by opportunist politicians. God's chosen people on both sides, each with a divine sanction to possess the land and subdue or expel the enemy. This does no credit to Christianity or politics. Both are losers, for neither is judged on its merits alone. The only winners are a growing cynicism and disillusionment with all religion and politics - "a plague on both your houses".
The time is long overdue for strong, courageous and costly Christian leadership. Although rightly and constantly condemning the evil of sectarianism, we in the Churches have been too scared of saying or doing anything which might alienate our Church members (especially the more politically active) or might disturb our inflexible theological dogmatism. So while sectarianism is condemned with our lips, we condone it in our churches. For we commend or condone educational apartheid of children in separate schools on a religious basis, when according to the example of Jesus, we must begin with the children if we are to achieve tolerance and reconciliation in our country.
Instead of looking for scapegoats, we should hang our heads in shame. We have lost our vision, content to keep the show on the road. The prospect of an unpopular, risky and demanding Cal vary road does not appeal, yet it is the only road to resurrection, renewal and reconciliation, - Yours, etc.,
(Very Rev),
Limavady,
Co Derry.