Sir - Various Protestant Church leaders have made statements recently condemning the harassment of people attending Mass at Harryville Church in Ballymena, Co. Antrim. I would like to ask what practical measures those leaders intend to take now to show solidarity with those who have been affected by the picketing and violence.
Mr. D. Ervine and the Progressive Unionist Party and the Mayor of Ballymena, Mr James Curry are to be congratulated on their courageous decision to visit Harryville Church. Wouldn't it be a magnificent gesture on the part of the leaders of the main Protestant denominations if they were in attendance as well? Spokespersons for the major Protestant Churches in Northern Ireland seem always to be looking over their shoulder lest they offend the more bigoted people in our congregations and thus loose membership of the more extreme sects, such as the Free Presbyterian Church.
At this point in time they will seriously disillusion their more moderate members, and increase the cynicism of non-believers, unless they act as well as talk. The experience of 25 years of condemnation and violence teaches that words are not enough; instead, what it needs is for the Churches to show that people can still sit down together in friendship and pray together, even though they may differ sincerely in points of doctrine.
As we approach the end of the year, which will go down in history as a time of increased sectarian bitterness in the North, the Protestant Churches need now to be making plans to ensure that Drumcree and other church-related incidents are not repeated in 1997. It will be useful to know what thinking has gone into the matter, if any. - Yours, etc.,
St. Michaels & All Angels Rectory, Sallins, Co. Kildare.