Northern Ireland Church Leaders Condemn Sectarian Attacks

Four church leaders in Northern Ireland have condemned recent sectarian attacks on churches, schools and homes as 'immoral'.
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Catholic Archbishop Sean Brady, Church of Ireland Primate Archbishop Robin Eames, Presbyterian Church leader the Rev Harry Uprichard and Methodist leader the Rev Desmond condemned the upsurge in sectarian violence across Belfast, north Antrim and elsewhere over the summer after a meeting with Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain at Stormont.

The four said: “The present level of violence on our streets is totally unacceptable.”

They jointly condemned any form of sectarian violence, saying, “On behalf of our churches and members we condemn any words or actions which cause danger to anyone because of their religious or political identity.

“Attacks from any source on churches, schools, halls, homes, the elderly and the young cannot be justified, excused or accepted.”

The church leaders added that, “Apart from their criminality, such actions are immoral”.

The four called upon all influential people within the community to add their voice to the condemnation and to reach out to all communities, reported Ireland On-line.

They also urged people to be cautious with their words and actions in order to prevent an escalation in fear.
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“There is no substitute for resolute and even-handed police action to bring justice to those who are engaged in, encouraging or assisting any form of violence at this time,” they said.

Mr Hain was warned by nationalist SDLP leader Mark Durkan Wednesday night that he was damaging his own credibility by failing to take action against the wave of summer violence by the Ulster Volunteer Force.

Mr Durkan said: “It’s not good enough for the Secretary of State to shrug his shoulders and wring his hands on the UVF.

“The truth is that the UVF have been getting away with murder and the failure of the NIO to call it as it is is sending out a very dangerous signal.”

Mr Durkan said that the Northern Ireland Secretary’s failure to tackle the UVF attacks “was damaging his own credibility and undermining the morale of decent people”.

The UVF has, according to UTV, waged a ‘bloody vendetta’ against the Loyalist Volunteer Force in Belfast since July and is accused of orchestrating numerous riots in the Woodvale area of the city.