Sir, - Archbishop Eames, when speaking of Drumcree in his address to the Church of Ireland Synod two months ago, said it was important to recognise that public worship took place "in the name of God, and that what happens on the way to and from such service was of as great importance". He considered it "reprehensible" that residents' groups were "manipulating the situation", but he would not point the finger at any one resident's group. What bunkum.
Dr Eames must have been alone on these islands in imagining that what was to take place in Drumcree was not a political event, and a subversive one at that. It is reassuring for the future to know that these imaginings are not shared by many of his co-religionists, particularly Bishop John Neill, Rev William Bingham, and also Brian Fitzpatrick (Rite and Reason, July 14th).
Regardless of whether or not the official endorsement would have made any difference, it is now there as an integral part of the sequence of events, and those who failed to act, as well as those who acted, must take responsibility.
Sharing such responsibility must be the media; and, where the South is concerned, the list is headed by RTE. Archbishop Eames was not asked any hard questions until Sunday, when it was too late.
What made the matter all the more reprehensible was the mounting by RTE of a diversionary attack on the Catholic Church and, indirectly, Archbishop Brady, on The Sunday Show with the aid of journalists John Cooney and Patsy McGarry, and also "Bishop" Pat Buckley, all of whom had little to say where Archbishop Eames was concerned.
Had the boot been on the other foot, and had a Catholic service been allowed to be a curtain-raiser to well-anticipated mayhem, the Catholic Church and Archbishop Brady would have been excoriated by the media. Further, I think it highly unlikely that we would have seen a minority religion being brought under attack, for no purpose other than as a diversion, and to be given a share of the blame. - Yours, etc., Donal O'Driscoll,
Dargle Road,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.