An ecumenical group of clergy, academics, journalists, with others from a number of walks in life, continues to make a contribution to an understanding of the problems of this island, with the issue of study papers, booklets and pamphlets from time to time. A recent booklet under the imprimatur of the Faith and Politics Group has appeared with the title Boasting and a sub-title Self Righteous Collective Superiority as a Cause of Conflict.
It has closely reasoned text, a valuable select bibliography, and as appendices The Joint Lutheran/Catholic Statement on Justification, all in 40 pages. It may be obtained from the headquarters of the group, 8 Upper Crescent, Belfast, BT7 1NT for £2.50 sterling. The group of 15 people includes Presbyterians, the Rev Dr John Morrow, a former leader of the Corrymeela Community, and the Rev Alan Martin, Minister emeritus, Abbey Church, Dublin, and the Rev Lesley Carroll.
The perspective of the booklet, it need hardly be said, is Christian faith. A cause underlying conflict in different situations including Northern Ireland is self-righteous, collective, superiority, whose roots are deep within all at the personal level and as part of a collective.
A sense of superiority linked to religious superiority can encourage a will to power and the domination of others. The thesis is presented under five parts: 1, Manifestations of Superiority; 2, Superiority and Domination; 3, Christian Faith and Collective Superiority; 4, Superiority and Truth; 5, Conclusions.
Generally, it is concluded that all need to be sure of their own identify before an advance to new relationships of acceptance can be made. All need faith composite of such an element of risk as needed to make advances in the Northern Ireland situation. All need to repent of feelings of religious collective superiority, and finally all need to welcome the stranger.
From what we judge is another perspective is a booklet on capital Decommissioning from the Cadogan Group, a small group of Northern academics and at least one of the country's leading journalists. Some would maintain that the booklet has unmistakable Unionist resonances.
Among its conclusions are that a frequently asserted view of the two governments, all the democratic parties, and the great majority of people of both parts of the island is that no circumstances existed within Northern Ireland which justified a resort to arms by any disaffected group: and no circumstances obtains now which can justify any such group retaining control of illegally-held arms.
The Dublin and Munster Presbytery branch of the Presbyterian Woman's Association will hold a special service in celebration of the millennium in Clontarf Presbyterian Church Hall on Sunday, January 23rd, at 3.30 p.m. There will be special music, and all branches of the PWA will be invited to take part. The National Bible Society of Ireland intends to launch "A set of Five Ecumenical Studies prepared for this Millennium year of the great Jubilee and written especially for Irish people today". The set is entitled Restoring Justice, Living the Jubilee, and will be launched by Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness at Bible House, 41 Dawson Street, Dublin, on January 18th at 5.30 p.m.
A Protestant Adoption Society was founded in 1952. The society had a change of name in 1985 to PACT, an umbrella title chosen to incorporate all the agency's services. PACT was chosen as the word means an agreement between individuals. The aim of PACT is to ensure happy, secure, stable families for children.
PACT offers a free confidential, non-denominational counselling service for all involved in unplanned pregnancies. It places a small number of children for adoption, most of whom have an ongoing contact with the birth parent. Post-adoption counselling - adopted adults and birth parents seeking information about each other - is also offered. Friends of PACT may help with an annual subscription or involvement in fund-raising. Inquiries to PACT, 15 Belgrave Road, Rathmines, Dublin.