Sir, - Here we go again. As one who grew up in the Diocese of Cape Town in the 1940s and 1950s when Archbishop Geoffrey Clayton and then his successor Joost de Blank led the fight against racial discrimination, I read Canon Charles Kenny's outpouring of Anglican angst over Drumcree (Rite and Reason, June 26th) with a sinking heart.
It is simply not enough to support resolutions in synods, nor to have ever more reports from various working parties; one actually has to do something. Why leave it to the primate? It is far too late for this year, but there is no reason why Canon Kenny and his fellow-Catalysts should not start planning for 2002. Perhaps they ought to pack the congregation, stand outside with placards, march down and present the RUC with an address of support. There are many other actions they could take.
In the longer term there is a need to educate - remember, in a lot of parishes the incumbents have been Orangemen for generations - as well as to create a replacement for the Orange Lodge, which in rural Protestant communities is often the only social venue, while playing in the band is the only youth activity. That is no doubt why members of the order are so often the pillars of the congregation.
Also, the other denominations must be involved, because this is not just an Anglican problem or even a Northern Irish one. - Yours, etc.,
T.B. Hinchliff, Barnaboy, Rossnowlagh, Co Donegal.