A CHURCH of Ireland bishop has spoken out against the violence, intimidation and sectarianism that followed from this summer's marching season. The Bishop of Clogher, the Right Rev Brian Hannon, told his diocesan synod that penitence was needed from those who had undermined the law and community trust.
Bishop Hannon, repeating comments he made at the same synod last year, called for a responsible attitude to prevail in order that the current tensions can be defused. He felt he must continue to "repeat the obvious" to try to get his message across.
"No matter how civil a right people may have to walk or to protest, no matter how innocent, righteous or even joyful organisers may perceive their plans to be, it is quite obvious that there are extremists on both sides of our divide who are prepared to provoke, to intimidate and to reintroduce violence to get their way," he reiterated.
"They will try to manipulate any opportunity to exploit both the participants and the media for their purposes. The right to protest on any issue and the right to walk on every street has to be measured against the right of the community as a whole to be protected from mayhem and murder, and from a return to the bloody sacrifices and carnage of the last quarter of a century."
Bishop Hannon said that the two communities must work for accommodations and agreements in advance of next year's marching season.
He prayed that the three members of the new independent commission established to examine the parades issue would have the "guidance of God and the wisdom of Solomon in their consultative deliberations. They will need both."
Bishop Han non also deplored the continuing incidents of boycotting. "The principle is wrong, and in society north and south in this island, boycotting has done immeasurable long term damage to both communities."
He added that the picketing and intimidation of church goers was equally shameful. "Even those who feel frustrated about their own rights of access to and from their place of worship do not solve anything by hardening the anger and hurt throughout the community in this way," said Bishop Han non.
