North cannot face another Drumcree, says Dr Eames

THE Church of Ireland Primate, Dr Robin Eames, has said the North cannot face another summer like last year. "History will not easily forgive anyone who encourages such a repeat," he said.

In his presidential address to the church's general synod in Dublin yesterday, he also warned against allowing sectarianism to plunge the North "into a new nightmare of suffering and uncertainty", but ruled out any general condemnation of the Orange Order after last year's events at Drumcree.

In time, what happened there last July would, he considered, be viewed "as one of the most defining moments in Ireland's history". The implications had "torn at the heart of the Church of Ireland".

Many members of the church were also members of "one or other of the loyal institutions", he said. "They see membership of the Orange Order as part of their ethos and heritage." After "much thoughtful prayer and indeed agony of the heart", he did not think a general condemnation of the Orange Order would be "right, helpful or justified".

The order was currently engaged in "a profound debate about its ethos and future", he said and what was needed was "encouragement for those who are honestly seeking to influence its life in a realistic and Christian manner

However, he recalled that in the constitution of the order there was "reference to the Roman Catholic tradition. Such prohibitions as to contact with that tradition has led to the charge of sectarianism". He deeply regretted that situation, and suggested that in an era where all were trying to find the way to a permanent peace and stability throughout Ireland, "any stance which can lead to the perception of sectarianism needs to be examined".

What had happened at Drumcree could have happened outside any Protestant church in the North, he said. Many in the Protestant community considered "they did not own the peace process" prior to last July. They felt alienated, and that they were "surrendering almost all they held dear". But it was "morally wrong" to use church services "in ways which question the integrity and independence of the church", Archbishop Eames said.

It was wrong for behaviour outside the church to give the strong impression that worship had only been an excuse to exhibit triumphalism. He remained convinced that agreement following dialogue was the way forward to solving the tensions of local situations. Sectarianism was, he said, "the real sickness in Northern Ireland".