Sir, - It is stretching a point more than just a bit for Peter Murtagh to lob the 39 Articles of the Anglican Communion in under a headline that reads: "Rome remains chief Orange enemy (May 17th). Despite the very balanced reporting of the Archbishop's remarks concerning the Orange Order in the preceding analysis, the casual nonChurch of Ireland reader might be left with the impression that the Orange Order is the C of I at prayer. This is patently not the case. Peter Murtagh should know that the C of I is a very broad church. The 39 Articles were written in 1562 in the language of religious controversy during an era when people of all persuasions were being punished and sometimes killed for their beliefs. The articles were set down at a time of great confusion among Christians in these islands and were for "the establishing of consent concerning true religion".
Far from being a virulent attack on the Church of Rome, the original 1549 Preface to Cranmer's Book of Common Prayer begins mildly, on a note of regret about the state of religious observance and belief: "There was never any thing by the wit of man so well devised, or so sure established, which in continuance of time hath not been corrupted."
The language employed by the founders of the Orange Order is the language of ethnic conflict and competition for land in late 18th century Ireland. It is the language of people who, sadly, have never ceased to believe themselves threatened by Romanism, whether in the guise of French Revolutionary ideals, the EU or the AngloIrish Agreement.
In a sentence: the language of Thomas Cranmer is inclusive; the language of Orangeism is not.
Yours, etc.,
20 Adelaide Street
Dun Laoghaire