Sir, - The comments by Rev Brian Kennaway, convenor of the education committee of the Orange Order, at the Glenstal Conference (reported June 27th) are extremely welcome and are potentially of great significance.
The present situation in which the Order presents its traditional parades as its core activity, from which it will not be detached either in location or on style, and in which various residents' groups resist those parades, is one from which we must escape. It is unacceptable because of the inevitable havoc that will continue to be created in the struggle between opposing groups, probably in more areas, and because its ultimate effect will be to accelerate the further cantonisation of Northern Ireland into distinct Catholic and Protestant areas. This process must be resisted with all possible force by all who care about our common future here.
I welcome Rev Kennaway's support for the severance of the link between the Order and the Ulster Unionist Party, though that severance needs to go further than a merely formal one. His comment that parades are not an "essential" characteristic of the Order contains the scope for enormous progress.
I fear, however, that his remarks on the degree of ignorance about the Order are somewhat disingenuous; some would feel that they know only too well what it does and what it stands for. The Order needs to do more than explain itself. It needs to perform a radical re-assessment of its nature and function, and in doing that it must be prepared to open itself up to external comment. I hope that Rev Kennaway and others of like-vision and courage within the Order will do that. Similar courage will be required of others in their response to the Order. We could work to a situation where the Orange Order would receive a welcome in every part of Northern Ireland. - Yours, etc.,
SDLP Councillor,
Ballymena,
Co Antrim.