IN a strong attack on the behaviour of some participants in Orange marches, the Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Eames, said that it was "a form of blasphemy" if those who attended a religious service engaged in behaviour afterwards which made "a mockery of such a service".
He paid tribute to the "leader ship and good example of the Order on many, many occasions when little or no publicity is given to it" but stressed it was vital that Orangemen "exercise the same degree of charity, Christian understanding and Christian example which our church has attempted to proclaim to the community when they exercise their rights beyond the parish."
Dr Eames said thought should be given to the appointment of a "judicial figure of repute", assisted by representatives of both communities, to advise on the routing of parades during the "marching season".
Once each case had been examined, a recommendation from such a body on routing could be taken into account in the decision to be reached by the police, he said.
Departing from his prepared script, Dr Eames appealed to the IRA to reinstate its ceasefire and to loyalist paramilitaries to maintain theirs.
"I would appeal on behalf of the general synod to those who have broken the ceasefire, who have brought back the threat to our lives, to reinstate that cease fire, that we may look forward with confidence and hope and allow our politicians room to discuss the future.
"But I would also say over the past 48 hours we have been concerned to hear rumours and in one case at Dublin Airport, fact, of a so called return to violent means by loyalist terrorist groups.
"I would appeal to them and to those who at this very moment are working so hard to persuade them not to be drawn into the trap that has been laid for them and not to become involved after a period when despite intense pressure they have maintained their ceasefire. I ask the synod to endorse those two appeals so that the people of Ireland may once and for all put violence behind them and learn to trust in peace," he said.
. The leader of the Progressive Democrats, Ms Mary Harney, has welcomed Dr Eames's suggestion that a body should be established to advise on parade routes in Northern Ireland.