Politicians hit out at the Democratic Unionist Party’s new Culture Minister today after he said he would not attend events in Catholic churches because of his opposition to the religion.
Nelson McCausland also admitted he did not know Tyrone were All-Ireland Gaelic football champions. As he repeated his opposition to Gaelic sport and language, he was accused of failing to show respect for those outside his own community.
He was appointed to Northern Ireland’s cabinet by party leader Peter Robinson last week in a move that followed a poor European election performance by the DUP.
Today republicans and nationalists accused Mr McCausland of failing to show he can be a minister for the entire community.
The SDLP's Declan O’Loan said: “Nobody can expect a minister to be fully conversant with all aspects of language, culture and sport that we have here. It is important, however, that he shows himself respectful to all. He seems to ignore his duty in that regard.”
Mr McCausland yesterday launched the Orange Order’s July 12th events as one of his first actions as minister and faced accusations of not showing the same interest in events linked to the Catholic and nationalist community.
“I have personal views regarding worship and I would not attend a service in a Roman Catholic church,” said Mr McCausland. “That has always been my position and remains such. That doesn’t mean that I do not have good relationships with Roman Catholic people.
“I wouldn’t want to offend them and I am sure they wouldn’t want to offend me.”
He said he would not attend any event on a Sunday, unless it was an Orange Order parade that included a church service, but denied that his role as a minister might see him have to visit a Catholic church or other venues he might not ordinarily choose to attend.
“There are places that I am sure I will go that I would not otherwise have gone, but when it is a matter of religious principle then I would have to abide by that,” he said.
On GAA, which is the biggest sporting organisation in Ireland and the largest spectator sport, he said he had no interest. “I have no knowledge of the game in terms of who has won what league or who is playing in a particular league, any more than I have a knowledge of who the Northern Ireland champion is in Lacrosse or squash or many other sports,” he said.
Mr Nelson is visiting a Gaeltacht area of Co Donegal today to meet Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affair Éamon Ó Cuív and Northern Ireland Education Minister Caitriona Ruane.
But asked by the BBC if he would learn some greetings in Irish before today’s visit, Mr McCausland said: “I think that my knowledge of Irish will remain somewhat limited.
“I always take the view that just because somebody can say a few words in any language doesn’t mean they have any knowledge of it. I am living at present in a cul-de-sac but it doesn’t mean I am very fluent in French.”
Sinn Féin Assembly member for North Antrim Daithí McKay said: "Since he came into office less than a week ago, Nelson McCausland has engaged in a media campaign attacking the GAA, the Irish language and now the Catholic Church."
He added that "once again a senior figure in the DUP has failed the test of political leadership".
Mr McKay warned that the remarks of politicians could fuel sectarian divisions and he condemned loyalist paint bomb attacks on Catholic churches and on GAA property in his constituency last night.
PA