|
|
|
The Church and Government Committee has called for honourable compromise at local level on the marching issue and urged church people to give support to the wider community and church leadership to encouragement movement and suggested that politicians should facilitate necessary compromise.
The feelings of fear, pain, confusion and stress in both communities as a result of recent events need to be talked through and the credibility of Christian Witness in Ireland reinstated.
Biblically the authorities of the state are to be obeyed. "Only under the most extreme circumstances can this obligation be refused. We do not believe that such obtained in recent times." Even an act of worship should be interrupted to facilitate the making of peace.
Tradition must never become a false God or be allowed to compromise the Gospel.
The full text of the statement reads:
1. There are widespread feelings of fear, pain, confusion and stress throughout Ireland caused by the events of the last few weeks.
2. The General Assembly has recognised that "the whole subject of traditional parades is a highly emotive one, that draws out the strongest of reactions from the people of Northern Ireland Š We need to recognise that the right to parade is a part of the culture of both traditions in Northern Ireland."
3. The recent disastrous events have unleashed forces of intolerance and anger and deepened the divisions in this society. These are in serious danger of driving us back into the destructive and inappropriate luxuries of uncritical self-righteousness from which we were slowly emerging. Such onesidedness has unfortunately been evident in some media coverage.
4. There are fears and anxieties in both communities which must be spoken about, heard and addressed. The articulation of one story does not eliminate the integrity of another. We are paying an awesome price for our failure to listen to each other and to accommodate diversity. However difficult it may be, Protestants have to listen to Roman Catholics and Roman Catholics to Protestants; Nationalists and Republicans to Unionists and Loyalists and vice versa. All kinds of people need reassurances about what is happening.
5. The present situation requires the political process to be pursued positively which will involve courage and the taking of risks.
6. The events of the last few weeks have seriously damaged the credibility of christian witness in Ireland and abroad. There are christian and biblical principles which can challenge and guide us.
7. We read in Romans 13 and 1st Peter 2 vrs 13-17 that the properly constituted authorities of the state are to be obeyed. Only under the most extreme circumstances can this obligation be refused. We do not believe that such obtained in recent times.
8. Jesus taught his disciples (Matthew 5 vrs 23-24) that reconciliation was so important that, if necessary, even an act of worship should be interrupted to facilitate the making of peace. People from all traditions should "make every effort to live in peace with everyone" (Hebrews 12 vr 14)
9. Jesus is the head of the church and he regularly demonstrated his Lordship over traditions. Tradition must serve the purposes of the gospel and of the Kingdom of God. When either is compromised by the demands of tradition, it is a reformation principle that tradition must be modified or reformed. Failure to do so turns tradition into a false god.
10. Christians should not use language which distorts and abuses the opinions of other people. (Matthew 5 vrs 21-22). The Apostle James warned us that even the spark of an inappropriate word can set the whole place on fire with fire from hell. (James 3 vrs 5-12)
11. Murder, destruction, intimidation, the hijacking of vehicles, the burning of homes, schools and businesses were done in the wake of Drumcree, the Garvaghy Road and the Lower Ormeau Road by people who were fired up by what happened there. We condemn that scandalous behaviour which cannot be justified. However, those who initiate actions in volatile situations cannot evade total responsibility for the consequences of what they begin.
12. We recognise the impossible task which the police faced and the difficult decisions which the Chief Constable had to make. We are dismayed at the threats of even greater violence which led to the actions taken by the police on the Garvaghy Road and on the Lower Ormeau Road. These were, understandably perceived by our Roman Catholic neighbours as a lack of even handedness in contrast to the apparent sensitive policing of most Protestant civil disobedience.
13. There has to be accommodation and compromise on the marching issue. Honourable compromises must be sought at the local level and we urge all christian people to give their support to the wider community and local church leadership to encourage movement in this direction.
14. We commend the efforts of the leaders of the four largest churches for their efforts at mediating the recent dispute. We would hope that politicians might also be facilitators and encouragers of necessary compromise. We also commend local priests and ministers, community leaders and those people in the Orange Order and the political parties who tried to calm passions.
PCI Home . . . Press Office . . . News Archive