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Presbyterian Moderator Dr Harry Allen has unequivocally condemned the violence at Harryville.In a statement the Moderator said,
"The events of Saturday in Harryville are to be unequivocally condemned. The escalation of civil conflict is only in the interests of those who do not wish to see the creation of a peaceful and just society. I would call for all picketing of churches to be abandoned and ask that members of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland take a lead in this matter. Also I regret the continuing arson attacks on churches and schools.
"We need to show sensitivity to the feelings of those who live around us, exercising tolerance and recognising that if we are to build a new kind of society, then it must be a genuinely multi-cultural society where the traditions of both communities are not only recognised, but affirmed and even celebrated.
"We all need to work at being good citizens and part of that is supporting the rule of law and order. Decisions may not always be as we would wish them but those who decide to take the law into their own hands cannot form part of a civilised society and clearly have no Christian ethos. Such people fail to reflect the broad opinion of decent people in Northern Ireland."
At its last meeting the Church and Government Committee passed the following resolutions.
1. The committee calls for all picketing of churches to be abandoned and asks that members of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland take a lead in this matter.
2. We profoundly regret the continuing arson attacks on churches and schools. Escalation of civil conflict is only in the interests of those who do not wish to see the creation of a peaceful and just society.
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