"Peace if possible, but truth at any rate" (Martin Luther)

"TRUTH IS FALLEN IN THE STREET"

EPS RESPONSE TO THE REPORT ON THE CLAUDY BOMBINGS - 26 Aug 2010

The prophet Isaiah states that "judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter".  These words, written many centuries ago, seem so very relevant in light of the NI Police Ombudsman's Report into the Claudy bombings of 31 July 1972.  The Report has now confirmed what has long been suspected by many people. The British Government, the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Roman Catholic Church conspired to cover up the central role of a Roman Catholic priest in the IRA bombings which claimed nine lives.  This appalling reality, which almost beggars belief, has turned the stomachs of all decent people across Northern Ireland and beyond, but, for the families and friends of the victims, the Report will have re-opened old wounds and added insult to the trauma and suffering they have had to bear for the past 38 years.

Various reasons have been given as to why this grotesque decision was taken by the state and the Roman Catholic Church to pervert the course of justice, but none of them holds water.  The main defence for the conspiracy is that, in the context of the time, the arrest of Chesney would have enraged the Roman Catholic community and might also have provoked a loyalist backlash against them. Apart from anything else, this argument rather calls into question the accusation that the RUC was an anti-Catholic and bigoted force. Whatever the reason - or the excuse - what hope is there for society if those in authority deliberately act in such an expedient, unprincipled and unethical manner?  And on how many other occasions during the Troubles was similar perverted logic applied by those in authority in our nation?  Along with the victims, truth and integrity fell on the streets of Claudy on that fateful July day in 1972.

Many people have long suspected that the priest, James Chesney, who was director of operations of the South Derry brigade of the Provisional IRA, was centrally involved in planting the bombs that killed nine innocent people including 8 year old Kathryn Eakin who was cleaning the windows of the family shop when the first bomb exploded. It also seems highly probable that Chesney, who died in 1980, was involved in other terrorist atrocities. But he was never brought to account for his crimes on this side of eternity. 

The Ombudsman's report raises a number of serious questions for the Government and the police, but the spotlight once again also falls heavily on the Church of Rome.

Did William Whitelaw, the Secretary of State at the time, makes the decision on his own, or, as seems more likely, did he consult with Prime Minister, Ted Heath? To what extent were officials in the NIO and No 10 involved? We need to know how far up the Government line this matter actually went. As the conspiracy involved moving a terrorist out of the United Kingdom into the Irish Republic, were there any discussions between the British and Irish Governments, and what was the latter's role?  After all, this was only two years after the infamous arms trial which implicated the Lynch administration in Dublin in the procurement of weapons for the Provisional IRA. 

It is vital that more is revealed about the goings-on within the RUC, and there must be disclosure of the full extent and nature of the information and evidence they held about Chesney.

Whilst the official position of the Roman Church has been one of opposition to terrorism, there has, down through the years, been a certain degree of Jesuitical ambivalence towards the IRA which, during the height of the Troubles, did little to reassure the Protestant and Unionist community. Chesney was not the only cleric to either support, or refuse to condemn, the IRA. Other priests who joined the IRA include Father Patrick Fell and Father John Burns.

As we observe the Roman Catholic Church's role in this sordid matter, there is a very real feeling of déjà vu. The half-hearted hand-wringing, the hand-washing and the crocodile tears from Edward Daly and Sean Brady are merely variations on a sadly all too familiar theme. Daly, very conveniently for him, appears to be in complete denial, and he says he has difficulty accepting the Ombudsman's conclusions. He says that he met with Chesney and accepted his denials about any involvement with the IRA.  But did he not wonder why Chesney was suddenly being moved to Donegal? Did he play any part in that move? He further asserts that he did not know of Cardinal Conway's involvement in the case until December 2002. We have heard and seen it all before and, as on previous occasions, none of it rings true. Yet again, the protection of a Roman Catholic priest is more important than truth, justice or honesty. When Cardinal Conway arranged for Chesney to be moved across the border to Donegal, did he discuss this matter with any of his colleagues, and what reasons were given for his sudden transfer?  The leaders of the Roman Catholic Church must face up to their responsibilities. If Chesney was involved in an attack which included the murder of a little girl, then his abuse of children is in a league of its own, and there is a very real need for the Roman Church to engage in meaningful and genuine confession. 

When the Saville Report was published, Protestant Church leaders quickly visited the Bogside to show solidarity with the people there. This dramatic and highly symbolic gesture contrasts with the much more muted response to date by the Presbyterian Church and the Church of Ireland to the Police Ombudsman's Report. Surely leaders from these churches should have visited Claudy immediately. They should also be demanding urgent answers from the Government and the PSNI and, above all, they should be challenging the Roman Catholic Church to face up to its responsibilities.

EPS RESPONDS TO DUP PAPER

The EPS and the Caleb Foundation have submitted a joint response to the Democratic Unionist Party consultation paper "Empowering Faith Groups to Benefit Communities". Our full response can be viewed by clicking on the sub menu on the left. The DUP paper can be viewed at www.dup.org.uk

RC BISHOP DISPLAYS HIS ARROGANCE

The Roman Catholic Bishop of Motherwell, Joseph Devine, is reportedly furious with the Prime Minister, David Cameron,  because he won't amend the Act of Settlement of 1688 which prevents Roman Catholics from taking the Throne.  Using words rich in irony, Mr Devine said, "The Prime Minister is already showing alarming signs of the arrogance and disdain so often associated with power".  Well, Mr Devine, your church could teach him a few lessons, for, over many centuries, it has abrogated to itself a power which has bred an unparallelled arrogance and disdain toward all churches and states outside its control.  And it is precisely because of the exercise of this powerful arrogance and disdain by Romanist monarchs such as Mary, Charles I and James II that our forefathers felt it necessary to exclude Roman Catholics from the Throne. So, for as long as Rome retains its spiritual and temporal claims, there must be no repeal of the Act of Settlement.

 THE PAMPHLET ON THE BATTLE OF AUGHRIM (published in the July-Sept 2010 edition of the Ulster Bulwark) is now available on this site - see Menu on left of your screen.

IMPORTANT NEW BOOK JUST PUBLISHED BY THE FREE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SCOTLAND - AVAILABLE FROM EPS

This timely new paperback book consists of 108 pages and contains five essays including "Who is Benedict?" by Matthew Vogan, "The Pope and the Constitution of the UK" by Rev Hugh Cartwright, "The Pope as the Head of a False Religion" by Roy Middleton, "Papal Infallibility" by Alexander Ross, and "The Pope in Scripture" by Rev John MacLeod. There is also an essay by R.L. Dabney on the "Attractions of Popery". This book is available from EPS for £5.00 incl p&p

 IAN PAISLEY HITS RAW NERVE WITH CHURCH LEADERS

7 July 2010

By simply re-asserting his long-standing commitment to the mainstream historical Protestant position on the papacy, Dr Ian Paisley, now Lord Bannside, has hit a raw nerve with the newly installed Presbyterian Moderator, Rev Norman Hamilton, and Canon Ian Ellis, editor of the Church of Ireland Gazette.

CHURCHES EXPRESS OPPOSITION TO PAPAL VISIT

Two churches in Northern Ireland, the Reformed Presbyterians and the Free Presbyterians, have issued statements expressing their opposition to the forthcoming Papal visit to Scotland and Wales. We warmly welcome these, and would urge other churches to follow their example.  

  REFORMED WITNESS COMMITTEE OF THE REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF IRELAND

"We must express our dismay and sorrow at the proposed visit of Benedict XVI to the UK.

We regard his claim to be the `Vicar of Christ on earth` as false and eternally ruinous to those who are deceived by it and who put their trust in it. We hold no ill will to the Roman Catholic community.  On the contrary, we desire their highest and everlasting good in being brought to faith in the `one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2 v5). Only in this way can any of us go to heaven instead of hell.

This year marks the 450th anniversary of the Reformation in Scotland. It is therefore both ironic and symbolic that the Pope will be visiting Scotland in September. We would do well to remind ourselves of the great events and the key figures of that era, and one man stands head and shoulders above all others. John Knox is the great hero of the Protestant Reformation in Scotland. The CD of Rev William Malcolmson's address on Knox at the EPS Thanksgiving Service in May is now available at £3.00 (incl p&p). An article on Knox by Dr Malcolmson is included in the current edition of the Ulster Bulwark. 

Order your free copy of the July-September 2010 edition of the Ulster Bulwark -available now.