Sir, - Congratulations to Dr John Lockington, Moderator of the Presbyterians, for his excellent suggestion that members of his church in Ireland gather to pray together rather than attempt to parade with the Orange Order at Drumcree.
As an Irish Unitarian I regret the silence of the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland over the Drumcree confrontation and the absence of guidance to members from the Synod of this church on this matter.
Robert Saulter, the Grand master of the Orange Order, and a member of the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland has used the offensive term "traitor" to describe Prime Minister Tony Blair because he married a Roman Catholic. It is possible that the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church's silence on the Drumcree issue could be construed as tacit support for the Orange Order and the attitude of Robert Saulter.
It is time for the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church in Ireland to speak up publicly in defence of the beleaguered Catholic minority in Portadown. Indeed, there is a need for the NSPCI to publicly condemn the confrontational tactics of the Orange Order at Drumcree because of the prominent involvement of Robert Saulter in the activities of the Orange Order.
The Irish Republic's Constitution specifically protects the religious liberty of Unitarians. I feel that the religious tolerance and security Non-Subscribing Presbyterians enjoy in the Republic places a special obligation on this denomination to speak out against the activities of the Orange Order in Portadown. - Yours, etc.,
Frank Small, Barking, Essex.