Catholic Primate of All Ireland Dr Seán Brady will speak to Democratic Unionist leader the Rev Ian Paisley in a historic meeting in Belfast today.
The encounter takes place amid the countdown towards important talks this Wednesday in St Andrews, Scotland aimed at restoring devolution in the North. Dr Paisley was said last night to be looking forward to the meeting.
A party spokesman said: "We will discuss a wide range of issues with Archbishop Brady and I'm sure we will have a useful and business-like meeting." But he refused to be drawn on past, controversial pronouncements on Catholicism by Dr Paisley, who was once removed from the European Parliament after calling Pope John Paul II the Anti-Christ during an address by the pontiff in 1988.
The spokesman said: "Dr Paisley is now the leader of the largest party in the province. It's easy to get sidetracked about other issues but for the moment, they're not relevant." He refused to pre-empt what would be discussed at the meeting, referring to the draft agenda released by the Catholic Communications Office. The draft agenda lists euthanasia, abortion, stem cell research, education, racism, sectarianism and lastly, "issues in the NI peace process".
Dr Paisley, deputy leader Peter Robinson, North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds and East Derry MP Gregory Campbell will meet Dr Brady, barrister Martin O'Brien, solicitor Anne Gibson, Bishop of Derry Dr Francis Lagan, secretary to the Northern Bishops Fr Timothy Bartlett and Deirdre O'Rawe, regional director of the Catholic Marriage Advisory Service.
The DUP delegation is expected to ask Dr Brady to urge nationalists to accept the PSNI. The primate has already expressed his hope that the parties would commit themselves to an Assembly "which has full community support for the institutions of law and order".
Speaking on BBC Radio 4 at the weekend, PSNI chief constable Sir Hugh Orde said he believed nationalist communities were growing in acceptance of the force. "What we're picking up on the streets is an increased acceptance of our service. . . . People are talking to us more and more behind the scenes.
"The real tragedy for me is that until Sinn Féin joins the policing board, some of these people will not feel able to support us openly."
Yesterday, an SF spokesman said its party's position on policing was "crystal clear".
"The governments are in agreement about what needs to be done and when. Once the institutions are up and running and once Sinn Féin see the colour of the legislation [ for devolution of justice and policing] Gerry Adams will call an ardfheis to ask party members to support policing," he said.
The party is to hold a rally on Tuesday night at Belfast's Europa Hotel, bombed by the IRA during the Troubles, as Sinn Féin launches a campaign with the slogan: "Can You Afford It?" It says the campaign is aimed at the whole population of the North.
It will ask the unionist community if they can afford "the increasing rates, water charges, erosion of education and special needs education in particular" which have taken place under direct rule and will continue unless the DUP moves into powersharing, the party spokesman said.
Sinn Féin will also hold talks with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today to discuss the talks in St Andrew's. An SDLP delegation will also meet Mr Ahern today. A spokesman said the party would urge Mr Ahern to raise the expanded role of MI5 in Northern Ireland at the St Andrew's talks.