Young unionists criticise church view

THE Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, Dr Harry Allen, has indicated that he is willing to meet young unionists who have attacked…

THE Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, Dr Harry Allen, has indicated that he is willing to meet young unionists who have attacked the church over statements made about Drumcree and about parades.

The youth section of the Ulster Unionist Party had accused the Presbyterian Church of "failing to reflect the views of their laity".

The criticism came from the Ulster Young Unionist Council (UYUC), whose chairman Mr Gavin Adams, released the text of a letter addressed to the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, Dr Allen, asking for a meeting with him to discuss the issued.

The letter reached the media on Friday, apparently before it had even been delivered to Dr Allen. After media inquiries, a statement was issued on behalf of the Moderator, pointing out that he had yet to receive such an invitation.

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However, it said he would certainly consider a request for a meeting, and would be happy to explain the church's statements regarding recent events and the thinking behind them.

The young unionists made a number of general accusations about the utterances of Presbyterian clergy and the statements made by the church.

They said: "Presbyterian clergy, like those of the Church of Ireland recently, appear to consider those who actually hold views in Northern Ireland as a problem.

"Like the NIO they seem to feel that they must studiously avoid any apparent sympathy with the Unionist position.

"The UYUC are keen to convey to the Moderator that there is nothing offensive or embarrassing about wishing Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom.

"Indeed, if all major surveys are to be believed, Northern Ireland's continued membership of the UK is the only significant political arrangement which both Catholics and Protestants are willing to accept. Given this, we wish to inquire why the Union should be the Presbyterian Church's sacrifice at the altar of political correctness."

The UYUC statement also specifically criticised the former Moderator, John Dunlop, who has been appointed to the British government's review body on parades.

Early in the week of the Drumcree crisis, Dr Allen urged both sides to go on talking, "as there is no possibility of peace in confrontation".

He said that acceptable agreements must be found "so that those who wish to parade may do so in a manner and frequency that residents can accommodate".

He also said that people had a right to protest, "but it must always be restrained and dignified" and threats should never be the grounds on which serious decisions were reached.

After the trouble that followed the Drumcree stand off, the Church and Government Committee of the Presbyterian Church condemned the "scandalous behaviour" which had taken place on both sides of the community.

The committee expressed dismay at the threats of violence which had led to the actions taken by the police on the Garvaghy Road and on the Lower Ormeau Road.

It also said that there had to accommodation and compromise on the marching issue, and "honourable compromises must be sought at the local level."

The committee also warned against intemperate language which could inflame, and it urged all round flexibility.