DUP leader the Rev Ian Paisley held landmark talks with the Catholic Primate, Archbishop Seán Brady, at Stormont yesterday which both sides agreed were constructive, cordial and useful. Dr Paisley said he looked forward to further discussions with Dr Brady.
Dr Paisley stressed that the meeting, which was scheduled to last an hour but went on for over 90 minutes at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, was not an ecumenical encounter, but nonetheless there was no doubting the significance of this unprecedented meeting.
Dr Paisley has often demonstrated his outright antagonism to the Catholic Church, sometimes depicting the pope as the "Antichrist". Yesterday's meetingcaused shock to some Protestant fundamentalist DUP supporters and this was reflected in calls to radio stations.
One caller to the BBC's Talkback programme was asked what was wrong with Dr Paisley meeting the archbishop. "Because he is leader of the Free Presbyterian Church and the Free Presbyterian Church totally and utterly despises the Roman Catholic faith," he said. A caller to another programme made references to the "Beast", to the "Antichrist" and "Satan's seat" of the Armagh Catholic diocese.
While Dr Paisley must be aware of these views among part of the DUP support base, he appeared comfortable with yesterday's meeting.
He and Dr Brady shook hands away from the photographers but there were smiles from the two men when photographers were allowed to shoot the start of the meeting.
The DUP provided tea, coffee and scones for the Catholic delegation and at the end of the meeting a DUP press officer came down to the Grand Hall of Parliament Buildings to hand out the Primate's statement.
Dr Paisley said the meeting with Dr Brady was a "political meeting" which also dealt with social and economic matters. "We have had a very good and useful exchange of views across a range of issues. It is in the interests of everyone to develop the foundations for stability and prosperity for all the people of Northern Ireland," he said.
"During our discussions we touched on a very wide range of subjects including: the need to address issues of poverty and social need in our province; the necessity to build a strong local economy; the benefits that can be derived for the whole community from achieving stable devolutionary arrangements for Northern Ireland and developing support for law and order," added Dr Paisley.
Dr Brady said the meeting was very helpful and constructive. He said they "discussed the benefits that would derive to all parts of the community from a stable and devolved administration in Northern Ireland. This included the need to develop support for the administration of justice and of law and order in every section of the community as a fundamental principle of democracy".
Dr Brady said everyone had a part to play in creating a more stable and peaceful society. "I think that real peace will come only when we focus on the common good of all of our society and not just on sectional interest," he added.
As well as the subjects mentioned by the DUP leader, Dr Brady said they discussed education, "the right to faith-based schools and how to provide greater support for the family based on marriage as the keystone of a secure society".
Dr Paisley was accompanied by senior members of his party. Among those with Dr Brady were Bishop Francis Lagan, Auxiliary Bishop of Derry, and Fr Timothy Bartlett, secretary to the Northern bishops.
Dr Paisley made his comments about Dr Brady after meeting the Independent Monitoring Commission later yesterday to discuss its positive report about IRA activity last week. He said the commission told him that the IRA was "not near perfection" over their abandonment of criminality and that Northern Secretary Peter Hain's positive interpretation of the report was a "deceit".
A Northern Ireland Office spokesman said Mr Hain was "not trying to deceive anyone" as he had urged everybody to read the report for themselves.
