Sir, - Over two days recently I attended two funerals, one a Catholic service, the other Protestant. At both we said the Lord's Prayer, and sang the 23rd Psalm. Two local communities celebrating, in a similar manner, the lives of the departed.
After the second service I listened to yet another report of sectarian violence in the North, which, when set against the warmth and comfort of the services, referred to above, does raise a fundamental question.
Why were the North's religious leaders not included in the recent peace talks? Surely a more pro-active, and visible initiative is required from the senior clergy of both denominations.
Put another way, if the problems of decommissioning, policing, etc. are settled, will the present frightening religious divide cease to exist? - Yours, etc.,
Mike Cormack, Blackrock, Co Dublin.