THE Ulster Unionist Mayor of Ballymena has welcomed the decision by the congregation of Our Lady's Catholic Church at Harryville to suspend Saturday night Masses this summer.
Mr James Currie said it was a courageous decision" which would provide a vital breathing space.
However, loyalist sources close to the protest outside the Co Antrim church have pledged to move their picket to another Catholic church, in Ballymena.
Mr Currie urged people to use the time to try to resolve the dispute over marching in nationalist Dunloy some miles away. Protesters had been picketing the church following confrontations between Orangemen and village residents.
Mr Currie said the decision to suspend the Mass for two months would have "an enormous potential to reduce the tensions at the moment". "It is a great move which will give people time and, space to think about the issues," he said.
The Democratic Unionist Party leader and MP for the area, the Rev Ian Paisley, also welcomed the decision but said he feared the picketing would resume when the services restarted in September unless loyalists could march in Dunloy.
"This issue rests with Dunloy. If there were no Dunloy there would be no Harryville," said Dr Paisley.
He insisted that one reason Mass at Harryville had been cancelled was that attendances were not good. "They have been working on a rota and the people going to these services have been wheeled in from other parishes.
"I think it is unfair for the priest to attack the police and blame them that they had to make this decision because they could no give the protection. The police have turned out extra well to give them protection," he said.
The Alliance Party chair woman, Ms Eileen Bell, has described Dr Paisley's comments as "a qualified welcome of the most cynical kind".
"While being very pleased to hear the sincere welcome of the decision by the Mayor of Ballymena, I was very concerned to hear Dr Paisley's comments. I think that this view is somewhat' cynical, especially coming from a Christian minister," Ms Bell said.