A Catholic priest in Northern Ireland has described an on-air outburst from a DUP special adviser to the Northern Ireland Executive as a “huge setback” for moves towards peace and reconciliation within the province.Wallace Thompson, chief aide to Enterprise Minister Nigel Dodds, caused outrage after he branded the Pope “the anti-Christ” and said he would oppose plans to bring the Holy Father to Northern Ireland.
He made his comments on Joe Duffy’s Liveline programme, a popular interactive radio show which is broadcast on the Irish station, RTÉ.
The topic under discussion was the sale of Catholic rosary beads at the Anglican St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin.
Mr Thompson made it clear he objected to the practice. He provoked outrage among listeners when he went on to say: “The Pope is the anti-Christ ... a lot of Protestants probably might not hold [that view] but it is still enshrined in the standards.” As callers to the programme challenged Mr Thompson on his remarks, he made further criticisms of the Catholic faith.
“I couldn’t go to a funeral in a Roman Catholic Church,” he said. “The priest makes blasphemous claims where he turns the bread into the body and the wine into the blood and those things to me are anathema.
“It is a strong statement to make but in expressing those views I am not conflicting with the main teachings of the main churches,” he said.
On the prospect of Pope Benedict visiting the North he said: “We would totally oppose that visit. We would have to say that we do not want the Pope to come to Northern Ireland.”
Mr Thompson had originally challenged the Dean of St Patrick’s, Dr Robert MacCarthy, for selling rosaries in the church gift shop. The dean responded that the beads were sold because the shop
attracted visitors of all denominations.
Mr Thompson has since said he was speaking in a personal capacity, but Fr Aidan Troy, who has worked tirelessly to strengthen cross-community relations in Northern Ireland, said that Mr Wallace’s comments were “extremely unhelpful”.
“With these words, wounds which were beginning to heal have once again been scratched,” he said.
“Nobody, whatever their belief system, whatever their religious affiliation, has the right to say such things about another human being. I would be equally appalled if such terms had been used against Dr Ian Paisley or any representative or leader of any denomination.”
However, he added that the comments had not come as a surprise to him.
“It was no shock whatsoever. I have heard comments like this made in my company many, many times since I arrived in Northern Ireland. It is always hurtful to me, as indeed I believe it would be to anyone of good Christian will. This attitude is not anti-papal so much as it is anti-Christian.
“In a strange way I think it is healthy that, however unintentionally, Mr Wallace has actually brought into the public arena a poison which has been below the surface in Northern Ireland.
“My hope is that, now that this is out in the open, Christian values and cross-community contacts which already exist can find a way, through talking and praying together, to deal with this and move on stronger and healthier and intact.”
Meanwhile, SDLP leader and Foyle MP Mark Durkan called on the DUP to take a more considered view in its appointment of special advisers.
“This man has been entrusted with an influential position in a public administration. Those who appointed him are the ones telling us in the Programme for Government that they will promote tolerance and mutual respect.
“Mr Thompson’s comments reflect intolerance and prejudice,” he said.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce