Sir, - With great respect to Denis Bradley, any future act of reconciliation in the North should not, insist not, involve church leaders (The Irish Times, April 6th). The churches are among the few institutions emerging from the conflict practically unchanged. They share nothing with each other, they contribute nothing to each other. For once can we not rid ourselves of the idea that church leaders are reconcilers? They are not.
And do we really believe that the few, but important members of the Jewish, Muslim, humanist and other groups we are honoured to have will deserve no place in an act of reconciliation? If they have none, we would be better to forget about it.
Peace in the North will be obtained by legally binding agreements and strict laws. No use trying to get it by persuading institutions to do something they never did and object strongly to doing. If they will not share Jesus Christ, they need not be asked to share goodwill and democratic government. - Yours, etc., Desmond Wilson,
Springhill Close, Belfast 12.