The challenge facing Irish church leaders
by Fr Joe McVeigh
It was rather distressing to hear the Archbishop of Cashel, Dr
Clifford criticise the GAA for refusing to remove Rule 21 which
bars RUC and British soldiers from playing Gaelic Games. His
remarks that northerners exerted what amounted to intimidation
are deeply insulting and arrogant.
It is typical of the arrogance of some people in high office in
the church. They adopt a high moral tone and show contempt for
the wishes of the people. It would be much more appropriate for
the Bishop to address the issue of intimidation inflicted by the
RUC and British army in order to give people - the young people
especially - confidence in the possibility of change by peaceful
non-violent means.
In the wake of the Stormont Agreement church leaders are being
challenged as never before to speak out for justice and equality.
The Agreement has not brought this about nor will it unless the
pressure is put on by people in power who want to see a just and
lasting peace. For many years of the conflict church leaders have
been content to appeal for an end to paramilitary violence and
for reconciliation. They never addressed the issue of state
violence and institutionalised injustice which are at the root of
the conflict.
The creation of a just and lasting peace on this island after
centuries requires a more dynamic input from the churches. In
other conflict situations around the world, such as South Africa,
the churches have made a significant contribution to the struggle
for justice and human rights by their symbolic actions and by
their forthright statements calling for an end to injustice.
The conflict here over the last thirty years has been about
rights. This must be confronted by all of the church leaders.
They must all deal with the core issue and stop trying to avoid
it.
The core issue, which must be resolved if there is to be a
lasting peace, is the denial of the democratic rights of a
section of the Irish people by those in power. Nationalists
living in the six counties have been systematically denied their
rights as Irish people. They have been treated as second class
citizens under British Rule.
I think it is fair to say that this situation of gross injustice
has been condoned over many years by all the churches. Church
leaders have for the most part (there have been a few honourable
exceptions) remained silent or ignored this situation. They have
preferred to support the status quo and have ignored the violence
of the state.
We may ask why the Irish church leaders have not confronted this
unjust situation which is an affront to human dignity and is
therefore contrary to the Gospel of Christ. Church leaders,
according to the Catholic Church's own teaching in Vatican II and
elsewhere have a moral responsibility to speak out and to take
sides - however unpopular this may be with sections of their
congregations. They have a duty to give witness. What has
happened to the Irish churches when you have an archbishop who
comes out publicy against the wishes of the people?.
It becomes clear from a look at our history that the churches in
Ireland have for pragmatic reasons become too much identified
with the political establishment and with wordly power. In doing
so they have tended to forget their true mission to ``bring good
news to the poor'' etc. Local churches within the Catholic
tradition are influenced by the Vatican which tends to side with
the right wing reactionary powers.
We see from history that the church is at its best and is true to
the gospel when it takes sides with the oppressed - not the
powerful. We see that the church is at its weakest when it claims
to be neutral or non-political.
It is now time for the leaders of the churches in Ireland to take
a stand for human rights and equailty. They must speak out
against the situation where the rights of one section are denied
because of their professed nationality or religious beliefs (or
both) and the privileges of another section are promoted and
upheld by the British government.
All church leaders must now call on Mr Blair and the British
government to stop provocative Orange marches in
nationalist/Catholic districts. Far from being religious and
cultural these Orange parades are displays of triumphalism and
superiority.
Church leaders have not only a right but a duty to oppose these
injustices and to do so publicly. It is not enough to make
``private'' representations. The churches must witness publicly.
In opposing the unjust political system in the north of Ireland
which brought about the conflict it is inevitable that church
leaders are perceived as taking sides - in this case primarily
the side of the oppressed nationalist/Catholic community. This
does not mean that church leaders are not concerned about
unionist rights as citizens in a democracy where all are treated
as equals. It simply means that the churches show clearly that
they want equality for all and they want an end to triumphalism
and domination. They take the side of justice and equality.
That is a priority if we are going to have a lasting peace. In
opposing injustice the churches are taking the side of peace and
we are laying the foundations for true reconciliation in this
country. Attempting to reconcile unionists and nationalists
without working for an end to the political system based on
partition, which has always promoted second class citizenship, is
futile.
The churches could begin to define a new role in the political
sphere by publicly demanding that the British government
implements the Stormont Agreement in full, especially in relation
to Justice, Equality and Human Rights. They can show that they
are about justice and human rights by forthright statements
condemning institutional injustice and calling for the creation
of a just and impartial police service. The churches in Ireland
can now show the world that change is possible by peaceful
non-violence means. When that happens the churches in Ireland
will have entered a new era and might find credibility with the
people who have been marginalised.
Fr Joe McVeigh is associated with the Centre for Human Rights,
Springhill, Belfast and is editor of ``The Irish Witness''.
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