It was hardly unexpected that the Grand Masters of the Orange Order of Ireland, England and Scotland would protest to King Charles about his recent visit to Pope Leo – in their eyes committing the grave transgression of praying with the Pontiff.
The Orangemen reprimanded the King for his ecumenical gesture, and rather impertinently directed him to “reflect on his Coronation Oath”, which included an oath to “maintain in the United Kingdom the Protestant Reformed Religion established by law”.
Even more predictably, the Rev. Kyle Paisley, son of the incorrigible Ian, wasn’t far behind, being within an ace of accusing Charles of religious treason. “The Protestant faith historically and theologically is a world apart from Catholicism,” said he. “I don’t for the life of me see how he can engage in that kind of corporate worship.”
We do not know if the Orange Grand Masters – Edward Stevenson of Ireland, Andrew Murray of Scotland and Tim Lord of England – have had a reply from King Charles, who by all accounts considered the fellowship experienced in the Sistine Chapel was a grace and a blessing.
But we live in free societies, and if the Orangemen want to express their displeasure, they are at liberty to do so.
Adaptation
Moreover, if we want a United Ireland, we have to accept the Orange Order’s vaporings, as well as their freedom to parade and perform their traditional rituals, provided they keep within the law.
Yet it became evident, during the recent Presidential campaigns, that Heather Humphreys’s candidacy was damaged by her husband’s long-ago connection with the Orange Order. I personally know of voters who chose not to support Heather because of that link.
Claire Hanna of the SDLP has expressed her concern that this “sectarianism” – her word – directed at the Church of Ireland candidate would hinder progress towards a United Ireland.
And Ms Hanna is right. The Orange Order may be, in our eyes, bigoted and itself obviously sectarian: but it is also part and parcel of Protestant tradition in Ireland, mainly northern.
“No rose without a thorn,” goes the old adage. Or “no flowers without the rain.” When you take on a new, or reassemble an old, collective configuration, you get the whole package – good, bad or indifferent.
It’s somewhat similar to a marriage – you mightn’t like some of your in-laws, but they are part of the family you’ve embraced.
Yet there is, I’d suggest, a note of hope. The Orange Order, in the 26 counties, has usually been less rigid, more temperate than in the six counties. Orangemen conduct their marches in a milder way in Co. Donegal; until recent years, there was an active Orange Lodge in Co. Wicklow, which seemed more picturesque than threatening.
Yes, the Orange Order has always been anti-Catholic (and in Ireland, anti-nationalist). But perhaps the truly Christian way to address this prejudice is to tolerantly turn the other cheek.
***
Sister Stan’ – Sr Stanislaus Kennedy (christened Treasa) – deserved every glowing tribute she received following her death earlier this month at the age of 86. She dedicated her life to supporting the poor, by caring for them and founding practical social services organisations like Focus Ireland.
As a young novice, she lived with the poor in Dublin’s Ringsend – once a working-class area, now a hipsters’ quarter, featuring darling bijou residences for technology wonks. She annoyed Charlie Haughey, and inspired Mary McAleese. Nell McCafferty thought Sr Stan should have been President of Ireland because she demanded equality for women within the church, and backed same-sex marriage.
But I wonder if Sr Stan also became the ‘token nun’ whom progressives such as Holly Cairns can freely praise, while nuns in general have taken a massive dose of obloquy over the past decades? The cruel Irish nun – often sly and cunning as well as mendacious and heartless – has become a stock figure for screen actresses, such as Emily Watson, as the manipulative Sr Mary in Small Things Like These or Barbara Jefford as the evil Sr Hildegarde in Philomena.
It may be that Sr Stan not only made a stand for the poor and homeless: she also rescued, to some degree, the be-smeared reputation of the Irish nun.
***
I have complied with medical advice to have my winter flu injection, but I’m not sure about the Covid jab. I had a bad reaction last time, a family member got Covid three times despite the jab, and I still read theories about the possible downside of the Covid inoculation.
Then a friend says: “you don’t want to end up in hospital in an ICU unit – so get it.”
Undecided, I asked my GP his advice. He said he was undecided too! He suggested we are developing herd immunity, which is a defence in itself.
Only one thing to do now: pray for guidance!
If you want a united Ireland – like it or not the Orange Order is part of the deal!
It was hardly unexpected that the Grand Masters of the Orange Order of Ireland, England and Scotland would protest to King Charles about his recent visit to Pope Leo – in their eyes committing the grave transgression of praying with the Pontiff.
The Orangemen reprimanded the King for his ecumenical gesture, and rather impertinently directed him to “reflect on his Coronation Oath”, which included an oath to “maintain in the United Kingdom the Protestant Reformed Religion established by law”.
Even more predictably, the Rev. Kyle Paisley, son of the incorrigible Ian, wasn’t far behind, being within an ace of accusing Charles of religious treason. “The Protestant faith historically and theologically is a world apart from Catholicism,” said he. “I don’t for the life of me see how he can engage in that kind of corporate worship.”
We do not know if the Orange Grand Masters – Edward Stevenson of Ireland, Andrew Murray of Scotland and Tim Lord of England – have had a reply from King Charles, who by all accounts considered the fellowship experienced in the Sistine Chapel was a grace and a blessing.
But we live in free societies, and if the Orangemen want to express their displeasure, they are at liberty to do so.
Adaptation
Moreover, if we want a United Ireland, we have to accept the Orange Order’s vaporings, as well as their freedom to parade and perform their traditional rituals, provided they keep within the law.
Yet it became evident, during the recent Presidential campaigns, that Heather Humphreys’s candidacy was damaged by her husband’s long-ago connection with the Orange Order. I personally know of voters who chose not to support Heather because of that link.
Claire Hanna of the SDLP has expressed her concern that this “sectarianism” – her word – directed at the Church of Ireland candidate would hinder progress towards a United Ireland.
And Ms Hanna is right. The Orange Order may be, in our eyes, bigoted and itself obviously sectarian: but it is also part and parcel of Protestant tradition in Ireland, mainly northern.
“No rose without a thorn,” goes the old adage. Or “no flowers without the rain.” When you take on a new, or reassemble an old, collective configuration, you get the whole package – good, bad or indifferent.
It’s somewhat similar to a marriage – you mightn’t like some of your in-laws, but they are part of the family you’ve embraced.
Yet there is, I’d suggest, a note of hope. The Orange Order, in the 26 counties, has usually been less rigid, more temperate than in the six counties. Orangemen conduct their marches in a milder way in Co. Donegal; until recent years, there was an active Orange Lodge in Co. Wicklow, which seemed more picturesque than threatening.
Yes, the Orange Order has always been anti-Catholic (and in Ireland, anti-nationalist). But perhaps the truly Christian way to address this prejudice is to tolerantly turn the other cheek.
***
Sister Stan’ – Sr Stanislaus Kennedy (christened Treasa) – deserved every glowing tribute she received following her death earlier this month at the age of 86. She dedicated her life to supporting the poor, by caring for them and founding practical social services organisations like Focus Ireland.
As a young novice, she lived with the poor in Dublin’s Ringsend – once a working-class area, now a hipsters’ quarter, featuring darling bijou residences for technology wonks. She annoyed Charlie Haughey, and inspired Mary McAleese. Nell McCafferty thought Sr Stan should have been President of Ireland because she demanded equality for women within the church, and backed same-sex marriage.
But I wonder if Sr Stan also became the ‘token nun’ whom progressives such as Holly Cairns can freely praise, while nuns in general have taken a massive dose of obloquy over the past decades? The cruel Irish nun – often sly and cunning as well as mendacious and heartless – has become a stock figure for screen actresses, such as Emily Watson, as the manipulative Sr Mary in Small Things Like These or Barbara Jefford as the evil Sr Hildegarde in Philomena.
It may be that Sr Stan not only made a stand for the poor and homeless: she also rescued, to some degree, the be-smeared reputation of the Irish nun.
***
I have complied with medical advice to have my winter flu injection, but I’m not sure about the Covid jab. I had a bad reaction last time, a family member got Covid three times despite the jab, and I still read theories about the possible downside of the Covid inoculation.
Then a friend says: “you don’t want to end up in hospital in an ICU unit – so get it.”
Undecided, I asked my GP his advice. He said he was undecided too! He suggested we are developing herd immunity, which is a defence in itself.
Only one thing to do now: pray for guidance!
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