region, said Wednesday, September 14, it is "ashamed" that Christians sharing its faith refused to condemn the latest outbreak of loyalist violence.
"We are simply appalled at the continuing violence on the streets, and ashamed that some who share our evangelical faith will not condemn it," said EANI General Secretary Stephen Cave in a reaction to BosNewsLife. "As an Alliance, we condemn this behavior unequivocally."
An uneasy calm returned Wednesday, September 14, after at least 60 police officers were wounded in street battles with Protestant mobs that began Saturday afternoon and subsided Tuesday.
The trigger — British authorities’ refusal Saturday to allow Protestants to parade along the edge of Catholic west Belfast — came on top of years of growing Protestant opposition to Northern Ireland’s landmark 1998 peace accord.
ORANGE ORDER
The Orange Order, the Protestant group blamed for instigating the riots in Belfast, said Wednesday, September 14, that the province’s worst riots in decades reflected "insecurity among Protestants" as Britain "is appeasing" Irish Republican guerrillas who announced peace moves but have yet to give up their guns. The conflict has increased tensions between Catholics supporting Northern Ireland’s independence and pro-British Protestants.
"For years we have seen nationalists achieve what they want by violence and the threat of violence. In these circumstances, when frustrated and with no other option, we should not be surprised that some individuals resort to violence," Robert Saulters, head of the Protestants’ Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, told reporters.
Cave rejected these arguments. "The Orange Order, which on its website claims to be Christ-centred, Bible-based and Church-grounded, has surely moved far from these roots when it calls people on to the streets knowing in all probability that would lead to civil unrest. It is unacceptable that the Order has been slow to speak out or unequivocally condemn the violence that ensued, particularly that perpetrated by its own members," he said.
"NO EXCUSE"
"There is undoubtedly severe deprivation in many working class areas across our towns and cities. Nevertheless this should never be used to excuse the levels of violence witnessed over the past few days," Cave added.
His organization urged local politicians to "demonstrate effective leadership," while at the same time churches and Christian groups "must take seriously their responsibility to call those within their membership and congregations to live at peace with one another and show proper respect for everyone, even those with whom they may disagree."
However, the Alliance said it does see signs "of hope for the future" as churches and organizations it supports have launched initiatives promoting peace and reconciliation.
"Youth for Christ Northern Ireland [for instance], a member organization of the Evangelical Alliance, has set up ‘The Blue Houses’, a safe meeting place in the heart of Ballysillan, North Belfast, an area particularly disadvantaged by sectarian conflict over the past 30 years. ‘The Blue Houses’ project aims to meet the physical, material, emotional and spiritual needs of the community," the EANI said. (With Stefan J. Bos, BosNewsLife Research and reports from Northern Ireland).
