Adams' Presbyterian view no surprise – Moderator
GERRY Adams' admiration for the democracy of the Presbyterian Church is no surprise, the Church's Moderator has said.
In a weekend interview with Irish state broadcaster RTE, the Sinn Fein President indicated that he felt closer to Protestantism than Catholicism and revealed that he had not visited the confession box “in years”, preferring to speak directly to God.
He told interviewer Gay Byrne: “I think the Methodists are the best, but I love the democratic nature of the Presbyterian Church.”
When asked if the host at Mass is the literal body of Jesus Christ – a central tenet of the Catholic faith – Adams replied, “Who knows?”
In the television interview, which explores the religious views of public figures, Mr Adams also said: “I like the gospel. I do think that Jesus Christ was a mighty man. I’m entirely taken by so many of the parables.”
Presbyterian Moderator the Rev Dr Donald Patton said that he was aware of Mr Adams views on Presbyterianism
“What he has said about the Presbyterian Church doesn’t surprise me at all,” he said.
“For example, I was at the Lord Mayor’s dinner last summer when Tom Hartley was installed and Gerry Adams was the chief speaker. He talked about the Presbyterians in warm terms and that goes back to, as he said then, the 1798 rebellion when the Catholics and Protestants rebelled unitedly against British authority.
“Over these past years, a number of our own ministers have met him – John Dunlop, Ken Newell, Godfrey Brown – in order to nudge things forward, which culminated in the Belfast Agreement.
“So he has had long discussions with Presbyterians, has got to know Presbyterians and has got to know the history of Presbyterians and he has, several times before now, expressed appreciation of the democratic nature of Presbyterianism.”
However, Dr Patton said that he had pointed out to one of Mr Adams’ colleagues that most Presbyterians did not rise in rebellion in 1798.
During the interview, Mr Adams also denied being a member of the IRA.
He claimed that the IRA was “right” but admitted that not everything it had done was right.
He added: “There were many civilians killed, including by the IRA, that’s where I would have the greatest cause for concern. And regret, of course.”
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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