Sir, - Two cheers for the Church of Ireland in its attempt to begin disassociating itself from the sectarian Orange protest in Drumcree. Not three because I agree with your Religious Affairs Correspondent, Patsy McGarry (May 19th), in relation to the pusillanimous attitude of the Bishops. In particular, the Primate Dr Eames refers to the "decent, respectable and law-abiding" members of the Orange Order.
What is `decent' about an organisation whose constitution states "Any member dishonouring the Institution by marrying a Roman Catholic shall be expelled"?
What is "respectable" about the following: An Orangeman "should strenuously oppose the fatal errors and doctrines of the Church of Rome, and scrupulously avoid countenancing (by his presence or otherwise) any act or ceremony of Popish worship"? It should be noted that the Chair of the Ulster Unionist Party has broken the rule by attending the funeral of Catholic victims of the Omagh bombing and is currently facing threat of expulsion.
What is "law-abiding" in relation to: "it shall be deemed an offence for any member to facilitate in any way Sunday sports, amusements or dances organised by Roman Catholics"?
How can Dr Eames use these terms in good faith. He distorts the meaning of the words he uses to describe people who subscribe to the above rules? The Orange Order is sectarianism writ large. Doubtless there are those who believe themselves decent, respectable and law-abiding in the Orange Order. Doubtless there are similar types within the Ku Klux Klan or within white racist organisations around the world.
The problem is that they believe that membership of these organisations is what is preserving decency and respectability. That is precisely why they are objectionable.
Anglicans in South Africa broke with Apartheid. On the same basis Anglicans here should break with another Dutch import, Orangeism. - Yours, etc., Mick Finnegan,
Cabra, Dublin 7.