Sir, - I trust I am not alone in noting the irony that the ardent Presbyterian layman Rt Hon John Taylor (November 18th) has chosen repeatedly to speak for and characterise the nature of the Church of Ireland clergy's expressed uneasiness about yet another summer of violence directed towards placing Orange feet on Garvaghy Road. As a priest of the Church of Ireland in the North I felt in good conscience that I needed to take a stand for peace and law observance, and therefore allowed my name to be added to the signators of the Catalyst letter. That of course is the central issue which Mr Taylor chooses to ignore. Nothing in the Catalyst petition objected in any way to people worshipping at the Church of the Ascension. All that was called for was that those appearing for worship on the first Sunday in July should commit themselves to observing all the laws and regulations by Her Majesty's Government then obtaining regarding marches and public processions.
In the past there has been some question whether the Portadown LOL considered itself bound by the same laws governing the rest of her Majesty's subjects in this province. Very specifically, the Order quite brazenly appeared for worship last July determined to break the law. This determination was supported at least tacitly by some of the more craven politicians here in the North: and apparently to this very day by the Rt Hon John Taylor and Rev Pickering, the rector of the Church of the Ascension. The signers of the Catalyst letter find this disquieting.
I directly challenge the conclusion of Presbyterian layman Taylor that we represent a minority of the serving clergy of the Church of Ireland or indeed a minority of church people generally. In the course of my active duties over the past two years, I have had occasion to be present when Drumcree was discussed among active clergy, the aggregate being close to 300. These were general meetings representing a cross section of the Church. Never have I been present when less than a majority present did not express sentiments fully in accord with the Catalyst statement. As recently as last week, two serving clergy told me that, while they supported the Catalyst substantive position, they simply felt that the more appropriate approach should be a Christian confrontation with the rector and select vestry of the Church of the Ascension. Since the text of the letter has commonly been misrepresented by, inter alia, Rt Hon John Taylor, they were truly surprised to learn that the letter called for such a meeting.
I must also speak of the dismay and confusion which the repeated association of the Church of Ireland with the Drumcree Parish Church has caused among lay people. In my own parish over these past two difficult years I have made pastoral calls into more than 1,000 separate homes (dare I say more homes than Mr Taylor has visited in that time?). More than two dozen of those homes had a serving member of the RUC who drew duty at Drumcree. Repeatedly I was told of incidents when they as Orangemen themselves were appalled to hear shouting across the barricades from the Orange supporters threats to burn their homes, wives and children, with specific mention of their home addresses. Yet, they felt duty bound, like the signers of the Catalyst letter, to uphold law and order.
I hereby set out a challenge to Rt Hon John Taylor. If he can get 80 active Church of Ireland clergy - North or South - to sign a letter supporting a service of Drumcree next July for those Orange Order members who come to church determined to leave after service to flout the lawful authority of the RUC and the Parades Commission, I will strike my name off the Catalyst letter and leave the ministry of the Church of Ireland. So, there you have it, Hon John Taylor. Put up or shut up! - Yours, etc., Rev Dr Gordon Graham,
Castlebridge Court,
Newcastle,
Co Down.