A chara, – On the event planned for Armagh in which President Michael D Higgins has said he is not in a position to participate, Diarmaid Ferriter wrote, "Perhaps we should see this controversy as a vindication of an independent presidency, a reminder of the limitations of 'shared history' and a measure of the divisions, historic and contemporary, that we still must confront with debate rather than prayer" (Opinion & Analysis, September 24th).
It’s not either/or. It’s both plus and. The colonisation of Ireland was seriously exacerbated by King Henry VIII in 1533 when he broke with Rome, thus making the political divide also a religious divide. The October religious event is planned for Armagh, the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland, and is not part of the official programme of Northern Ireland. In a matter where religion has been so politicised, both prayer and debate have an essential role for Christians.
On the same topic on the same page, Stephen Collins wrote: "By refusing to attend President Higgins has not simply insulted the Catholic and Church of Ireland archbishops of Armagh . . ." (Opinion & Analysis, September 24th). This is not the case. The President said he sent a message to the organisers last March that the proposed description of the event presented problems. The organisers have said they first became aware on September 14th that President Higgins would not attend. There appears to have been a breakdown in communications.
Until we know more about how this happened, we cannot conclude that any insult was involved.
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The religious ceremony is described as “to mark the centenary of partition and the formation of Northern Ireland.” If a simple change were made so that it would be “prayer and reflection on the occasion of the centenary of partition and the formation of Northern Ireland,” I wonder would that make a difference?
That partition has two parts: the formation of Northern Ireland, and of the Irish Free State, leading to the independent Republic of Ireland.
If a religious event “to mark the centenary of partition and the formation of the Irish Free State” were organised at a church in the Republic, I wonder would some political leaders, or the head of state, be happy to participate? – Is mise,
PÁDRAIG
McCARTHY,
Sandyford,
Dublin 16.