THE REV Ian Paisley, MP for North Antrim and former DUP leader, has said the pope makes claims that are “ridiculous”.
In an interview in Dublin with George Hook to be broadcast on Newstalk radio this evening, Dr Paisley was asked why he had been “dismissive” of the pope in his speeches over the years.
“Because the pope makes claims that are ridiculous . . . First of all you come to the doctrine of the Mass where he says he can turn it into the actual body and bones and blood and deity of Christ.
“Well it’s not so, because it retains even after the prayer of dedication just the same condition as it was before.”
Dr Paisley described political developments in the North in recent years as a “modern miracle”.
“We’ve had expressions from Sinn Féin leadership about those that have been trying to get violence back into Northern Ireland and they have condemned them.
“Mr [Martin] McGuinness talked about them as being traitors. Now that’s very strong language and that has brought us to the position that we’re in today.”
Asked if he believed the Border was becoming increasingly less important, Dr Paisley said he thought it had “real meaning”.
“I don’t think that the majority of people in your part of Ireland are worried about it. They’re quite happy that Ian Paisley’s a unionist.” He had visited places where “probably I’d have been shot if I’d gone in the early days” and found that people were worried about “things that are a necessity to the wellbeing of us all”.
Dr Paisley also spoke about his sadness for the victims of child abuse in religious institutions.
“I felt very sad. Lives have been destroyed and I just sat down and had my own quiet time of prayer for those people.
“I have been careful not to come into this fray because there’s many people in the fray and I think that the general public themselves have come to their judgment.”
The pre-recorded interview, part of the National College of Ireland’s Legends In Your Lunchtime series, can be heard on Newstalk 106-108FM from 6.30pm.
