Madam, – It is nice to be well thought of by Ann Marie Hourihane (“Nice reliable Protestants could set us on an even keel”, Opinion, December 13th), if somewhat disconcerting to realise that what she prizes most is a Presbyterian lack of flair and imagination. To be fair, we Irish Presbyterians did mislay our radical theological mojo somewhere around the beginning of the 18th century. It is to our shame that we have largely stood apart from participating in the forward progress of our island since, and become better known for saying No in politics (as it is suggested we might do in banking).
Though the point is made light-heartedly, Ms Hourihane touches a wider point. There is a Presbyterian theological imagination, animated by prophetically egalitarian ideas of fraternity, mutual responsibility and disdain for the pretensions of civil and ecclesiastical power. The present crisis in our country is a spiritual as well as an economic one and this most republican of Christian traditions could have a part to play – with others – in the building of a new Ireland. This is a moment of opportunity as well as pain; our situation is pregnant with hope and possibility. If only we will give ourselves to that theological task. – Yours, etc,