WORSHIP of God must never be allowed to become an excuse for triumphalism, the Church of Ireland Primate, Dr Robin Eames, told the Armagh Diocesan Synod in Armagh yesterday.
In his presidential address, which was devoted to the events of the summer in Northern Ireland, the impact of the "Drumcree stand off" on the Church of Ireland, and the church's relationship with the Orange Order, Dr Eaines warned against the politicisation of the role of the church. He also appealed for an end to the boycotting of Protestant businesses, and of the blockading of Catholic churches.
"Northern Ireland cannot afford to go through another summer such as we have experienced this year. Northern Ireland cannot afford to ever again endure the public disorder, the divisions and the frustrations of last summer. Nor can this province afford to endure its consequences."
He stressed the need to see the events at Drumcree in a wider context. "In the days leading up to last summer, the community temperature was rising across the board in Northern Ireland."
Behind it all lay "feelings of insecurity, feelings about uncertainty for the future, feelings of frustration caused by events over which people felt they had no control", he said.
Many in the Protestant community felt they were being slowly but surety led into a future which would see an erosion of their ethos and way of life. Within the Roman Catholic community there were many who genuinely felt that they were being subjected to a total abrogation of their feelings and their rights. They felt that what advancement they had made in a recognition of their ethos was being ignored."
Dr Eames then explained at length the relationship between the Church of Ireland and the Orange Order in general, and in particular between the church at Drumcree and the local lodges.
He said that for generations it had been a tradition for Orange lodges in the Portadown area to attend a church service at Drumcree Parish Church on the Sunday prior to July 12th, together with other members of the congregation. This service should be separated from the events which followed, he said.
"What happened on the public road was a matter for the civil authorities and lodges," he said. While none of us in this diocese seeks to be absolved from degrees of responsibility, it is important that this distinction is drawn and understood at the outset."
Turning to the relation between the Church of Ireland and the Orange Order, he said there was no structured connection between them. However, "many members of the Church of Ireland in Northern Ireland, as many members of all the main Protestant churches in Northern Ireland, are also members of the various Orange institutions. They view their membership as part of their culture. They view their membership as a traditional part of their lives. Their fathers and grandfathers before them were members".
Dr Eames went on to condemn all violence, intimidation, disruption of life and threats which took place across Northern Ireland at the time of the Drumcree standoff.
"Worship of Almighty God must never be allowed to become an excuse for what we now refer to as `triumphalism', nor can it be allowed to be an occasion manipulated for political purposes.
He condemned the boycott of Protestant businesses, saying he had found evidence of a definite policy by certain groups to promote it. He also said he had learned of members of the diocese who had received threats from "a so called loyalist organisation" because they continued to do business with Catholics.
"Equally I must condemn the actions of those who have indulged in protests outside Roman Catholic Churches and attempted to prevent parishioners from attending worship," he said.