Sir, - Rev Brian Kennaway cites the Orange Order as "not admitting into its brotherhood persons whom an intolerant spirit leads to persecute, injure, or upbraid any man on account of his religious opinions" (Rite and Reason, June 19th).
Although there is much food for thought here, and perhaps controversy, it does bring to mind the Declaration on Religious Freedom of the Second Vatican Council - in particular, a section which has direct relevance to the obstructive campaign of the Garvaghy Road Resident's Coalition.
Religious freedom, it explains, "means that all men should be immune from coercion on the part of individuals, social groups and every human power so that, within due limits, nobody is forced to act against his convictions or prevented from acting according to his convictions in religious matters in private or in public, alone or in association with others. "The Council further declares that the right to religious freedom is based on the very dignity of the human person as acknowledged through the revealed word of God and by reason itself. This right of the human person to religious freedom must be given such recognition in the constitutional order of society as will make it a civil right."
The Portadown Orangemen, having already made significant changes for any future Drumcree parade to take account of complaints from the residents, would seem to come under the protection of the declaration. The parade is a politico-religious event. It is a public profession of attachment to the Reformed Faith, and of a loyal determination to defend it, and the civil and religious liberties of the Protestant unionist/loyalist people, from the threat of "Rome Rule", which they perceive to be inherent in a united Ireland.
Perhaps, pending a dialogue on the subject between the Orange Order and the Catholic Church, the residents' coalition might be prevailed upon to allow the parade pass unhindered along the Garvaghy Road. All the churches, jointly, might make the appeal - who better to start the process of healing the partition of hearts and minds? - Yours, etc.,
James McGeever, Dublin Road, Kingscourt, Co Cavan.