Opinion

Poppy day madness

Wearing a poppy created controversy at last weekend's international football games
Wearing a poppy created controversy at last weekend's international football games Wearing a poppy created controversy at last weekend's international football games

It’s that time of year again when Poppy madness raises its head. Once again controversy over who should wear it and when. The latest was concerning football.

The English cannot believe that anyone can have a reason not to wear one. Italian, German, Turkish, Argentinian footballers and managers are expected wear one.

The British army has killed people in practically every country and still they expect people to honour their dead. Unbelievable. 

JOSEPH KENNEDY


Dunmurry, Co Antrim

Clear and compelling case for the ending of non-jury trials

On November 16 the secretary of state announced a consultation on the potential to further extend the use of non-jury trials in Northern Ireland. This legislative mechanism came to fruition in 2007.

The April 2003 joint-declaration clearly gave commitments to repeal the Northern Ireland-specific parts contained within Section VII of the Terrorism Act 2000.

And, in 2006, the government announced they were to phase out the use of Diplock courts.

There are two issues that arise from the provisions the secretary of state is now reviewing. The first is whether- in the context of a ‘Fresh Start’ – that such emergency provisions are still required to deal with terrorist-related offences, or whether this draconian practice actually strengthens dissident republican terrorism by bestowing upon them a ‘political’ status, rather than simply dealing with them as criminals.

The second issue is how this provision has been used in cases in which no terrorist-related charges have been brought, and a certificate has been issued simply on the basis of ‘soft intelligence’, which given Section 7 of the Act cannot be challenged by or within a court.

There is also an argument around at which stage Article 6 of the Human Rights Act becomes engaged and whether the mode of trial falls under the protections of Article 6, namely “everyone is entitled to a fair and public hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial tribunal established by law”.

Given that the prosecution alone makes the decision to issue a certificate, removing one of the basic tenets of British justice – to be tried by a jury of your peers – how can this be described as an ‘independent and impartial tribunal’?

I believe the answer to both the aforementioned issues, which are generally related but distinct points of debate, is that there is a clear and compelling case for an end to non-jury trials per se.

If there was any jury tampering then the Criminal Justice Act 2003 has provisions to allow for the suspension of a jury trial. This should be sufficient.

In the case of terrorism-related charges I believe that bestowing conflict-related provisions upon dissident republican terrorism is actually bolstering their propaganda efforts to present their actions as being politically motivated, rather than simply criminal.

Most seriously, however, is what I believe is prosecutorial overreach in terms of issuing non-jury certificates, on the basis of uncorroborated ‘soft intelligence’ that wouldn’t reach either a civil or criminal evidential threshold, for charges totally unrelated to terrorism.

A political fresh start cannot go hand in glove with a regressive policing and justice strategy.

JAMIE BRYSON


Donaghadee, Co Down

To instruct in truth is a witnessing of charity

I seem to have caused Martin J McGuinness (November 7) some confusion with my recent comments, which I would now wish to clarify.  

He correctly states the origin of Dominus Iesu comes from the pen of Cardinal Ratzinger, yet it was approved and entered into the teaching of the Magisterium, by Pope St John Paul II. His hangup that I refuse to state that the reformation wasn’t revolutionary but reformatory is contradicted by Cardinal Brandmuller, who states that the Lutheran scholars Frank Lau and Will Penkert agree on the intention of Luther for a radical push which repudiation of the Mass and Papal authority featured highly after 1520 (Light and Shadows, Ignatius press, 2007 p144). If this rejection of what was viewed as a given for the previous 1500 years was not revolutionary, then what is?

Regarding the phenomenon that is Eucharistic miracles, which have been scientifically and independently verified, they are a strong indications that the Mass has a supernatural origin and that my questioning whether or not has this occurred in Anglican, Lutheran worship, was not intended as an elated expression of Catholic smugness – it was just a question asked.

Where I do agree with Martin, is that the state of Catholicism was, by and large, in a stark contradiction to its Founder’s wishes.


Yet, the research of Dr Eamon Duffy and others has shown that there was a strong and progressive rediscovery of piety, both in Europe and in these isles, that contradicts the common held view that all was doom and gloom – even the Fifth Lateran Council paved the way for Trent, whose documents are the final comment of the Church on the calamity to which the events of 1517 unleashed.

My intention in these and in previous comments were in no way to be viewed as pompous self-importance, neither wishing to be fundamentalist, with its current negative understanding; but an exercise of invitation, that the Mass by its divine origin, is a continual invitation to truth, which as Aquinas sees an act of the highest charity, which Catholicism has always been.

JDP McALLION


Clonoe, Co Tyrone

Support network for LGB&T people

I’m exploring the possibility of setting up a support network for LGB&T people over 18 who wish to see The Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) providing welcome, safety and inclusion.

Groups such Changing Attitude Ireland and Accepting Sexuality have been working for the inclusion of people in the Church of Ireland and the Irish Methodist Church with considerable success. They also provide a safe space for a wide range of people including LGB&T people, their families and friends, lay people and clergy to have those conversations surrounding the subject of sexuality and gender diversity which might be difficult in other places. I would envisage something similar for Irish Presbyterians.

If sufficient interest is shown, I would envisage facilitating a meeting of those who would like to see those three pillars of welcome, safety and inclusion for LGB&T people implanted in the worship and practice of PCI.

To express an interest, please contact me in confidence by emailing me at lgbtirishpresbyterian@gmail.com I stress the confidentiality of any communications.

COLIN FINN


Belfast BT5

Western democracies under threat

Brexit, the vote to leave the EU, and the Trump phenomenon are symptoms of a profound xenophobia among a growing section of the population in western countries marked by a detestation of people of a different ethnicity, race and religion.

Conflict and deprivation in the Middle East and Africa has led to the biggest mass movement of peoples since the Second World War impacting in particular on the European nations where migrants are seeking safety and security.

Similarly movements of people from Central and South America are also impacting on the economies of the United States and to a lesser extent Canada.

The resulting tensions have spawned right-wing movements in many countries and the survival of western democracies in nation states is under threat.

The building of walls, barriers and fences and the harking back to a time when societies were more homogeneous are not the answers.

As long as economic disparities exist migration of people will continue and increase over the coming decades.

The world will slide into a period of increasing conflict unless we find the means to share the resources of this planet more equitably and to accommodate the ethnic and cultural differences that exist between peoples.

J CULLINANE


Cabragh, Co Armagh