Opinion

‘Alternative facts’ on Lutheran and Catholic faith misleading

I am beginning to think I will have to go back to Northern Ireland and start the One True Church of Martin Luther – one of my historical heroes. It seems that some Protestant ministers do not follow the teachings of the Lutheran Church. 


Exhibit A, in the latest instance, is the declaration by the Rev Eddie Coulter as to why he would not participate in the cross-community carrying of the Cross of Christ in the ‘Walk of Witness. He reasons thus: “because I have deeply held theological disagreements with Roman Catholic teaching about the Cross”. 

I seem to be a voice crying out in the wilderness in pleading that all the followers of Martin Luther in Northern Ireland would acknowledge and recognise that the Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation have reached a wonderful agreement on the Doctrine of Justification (Joint Declaration on Justification, October 1991 in Augsburg, Germany).

The Joint Declaration (with its Official Common Statement and Annex) formally and authoritatively declare the Doctrine of Justification is no longer a ‘Church-dividing’ issue. An agreement on the Doctrine of Justification is most assuredly an agreement on “teaching about the Cross”, Rev Coulter’s phrase. He says he has “deeply held theological disagreements with Roman Catholic teaching about the Cross.” Well, he is in fact also saying he has deep disagreement with the Lutheran World Federation – and also with the Anglican/Episcopal 


Church and World Methodist Council which have welcomed and approved the Joint Declaration on Justification.

True Protestantism/Lutheranism is not by served by the statement of ‘alternative facts’, which misrepresents the teaching of the Catholic Church, misleading the good Protestants of Northern Ireland. Rev Coulter’s unfortunate language, however intended, can amount in effect to what Dr John Brewer means when he speaks of “theology being used in social closure and stratification” in Northern Ireland.(Anti-Catholicism in Northern Ireland, 1600-1998 : the mote and the beam). Who can deny that the preaching of such ‘otherness’ has been a key tool for keeping Catholics in their place in Northern Ireland? It had no impact on the Pope and the College of Cardinals – and it did not advance true Protestant theology and Biblical faith – but it certainly contributed to a culture of Protestant supremacy through British rule and British rule through Protestant supremacy.

This Holy Week may all begin to see Northern Ireland as the ‘Beloved Community’, the term made famous by the other Martin – Luther King Jnr – a community of non-violence, equality, justice, solidarity and forgiveness.

Fr SEAN McMANUS


President, Irish National Caucus, Washington DC

No excuse for Israel’s illegal colonial occupation

Steven Jaffe (March 30) writes that I should turn my attention to human rights abuses in the Arab world. I am fully aware of conditions in the Arab world and deplore them but this situation does not in any way excuse Israel for the illegal colonial occupation of Palestine lands.

Last week Israel announced the decision to build a new illegal settlement on Palestine lands close to the Arab city of Ramallah. In the same week a United Nations report stated that Israel is imposing an apartheid regime on the unfortunate captive people of Palestine. That great protector of ‘freedom and democracy’ in the Middle East, the US, forced the withdrawal of the report.

Mr Jaffe accuses me of failing to give examples or statistics ‘to back up allegations’. He, of course, fails to answer the explicit ‘allegation’ regarding Israel forcing the indigenous people of the Negev off their lands to make way for more illegal Jewish settlers. If Mr Jaffe would like me to detail the numerous atrocities perpetrated by Israel I would be happy to do so. 

He cites Freedom House as ‘an independent monitor of political rights around the world’. 

Founded by President Roosevelt in Washington DC in 1941, its purpose was to covertly persuade the American public to abandon its neutrality and isolationism and get involved in the Second World War. It wasn’t needed, as Pearl Harbour happened later the same year.  

Subsequently Freedom House  became a front for the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), founded by President Reagan in 1983, itself a CIA front organisation.  

One can hardly expect objectivism from Mr Jaffe as his life, as co-chair of the ‘Northern Ireland Friends of Israel’ based in London, has largely been devoted to defusing criticism of Israel’s depredations against the subjugated population of Palestine.

EUGENE F PARTE


Belfast BT9

Losing patience over driver licence renewal

I wish to draw attention to the completely unacceptable delay in the renewal of driver’s licences being experienced at the moment. My licence went out of date in early March. I should have known to check it but I did not do so. Three days after it expired I received a reminder advising me it was about to go out of date. I immediately set about getting new photographs. I posted the application on Friday March 10 using a first-class stamp so it should have arrived with the authorities on Monday March 13.

I tried to telephone on numerous occasions but keep getting a recorded message advising me that my call cannot be taken owing to the high number of calls being received. They asked for my patience. I am also advised that drivers can continue to drive provided a valid application has been received before the current licence went out of date. Obviously this does not apply to me as neither I or the relevant authorities were aware that my licence  was due to go out of date.

I cannot speak to anyone about this so I just await the postman every morning worrying in case there is a problem with my application and it will be returned to me for amendment delaying the matter even further. 

Surely there is something that can be done about this. 

J McBRIDE


Belfast

Assembly has failed in its objective to create agreement

From my observations of the whole political conflict in Northern Ireland I have concluded that the one underlying aspect of both sides is irrational fear. Protestants have an irrational fear of Rome, while the Catholics have an irrational fear of the English. These fears have been exploited over the years and allowed our culture to focus on head count rather than allow our society to evolve naturally.

There are just some things we’ll never agree on, no matter how much the British, Irish and American governments see otherwise. Instead of trying to homogenise this country, what we should do is accept our differences.

The hot air from the two main parties here is just that, there is no substance.


Life goes on.


Belgium experienced economic growth during its political impasse in 2011.

The assembly has failed in its objective to create peace and prosperity.

We should either have joint authority or direct rule.

DESMOND DEVLIN


Ardboe, Co Tyrone

Euro security

The new €50 banknote went into circulation on April 4 with a variety of new hi-tech security features to reduce counterfeiting.

In light of this would it be too much to expect the EU to tighten border security along with currency security. 

M CAIRNS


Belfast BT15