Robinson: I would go to Catholic mass
PETER Robinson has said that he is prepared to attend mass in a Roman Catholic church.
In another symbolic break with DUP tradition, the party’s leader said that he would attend a funeral mass either as a “mark of respect” to dead friends or in his role as first minister.
Neither Mr Robinson, 62, nor his predecessor, Lord Bannside, 84, have ever attended a mass.
“I would have no objection to attending the funeral of a friend who was a Roman Catholic,” Mr Robinson told the Belfast Telegraph.
“I wouldn’t be going as an act of worship, I would be going as an act of respect for the individual.”
However, he added: “These are personal matters and some of my other colleagues might have a different view on them.”
Mr Robinson said that he had been in Catholic churches on several occasions — most recently when he accompanied Prince Charles on a visit to St Malachy’s Church in Belfast city centre earlier this month — but said that he had never been to a Catholic service.
“I have a very large number, perhaps a surprisingly large number, of Roman Catholic friends. There are issues of showing respect to individuals so that (religious objections) would not keep me out of going to the communion service.”
Lord Bannside, who as Ian Paisley founded both the DUP and Free Presbyterian Church, was famed for his vocal criticisms of the Roman Catholic Church, describing the mass as “an abomination” and “idolatry”.
Unlike UUP leader Tom Elliott, who as an Orangeman is forbidden from attending Roman Catholic services, Mr Robinson is not a member of any loyal orders.
The comments are the latest in a series of statements and gestures by Mr Robinson over recent months which have attempted to move the DUP away from Paisleyism and onto the centre ground of politics.
Last week Mr Robinson held his first meeting with the head of the GAA in Ulster, Aogan O Fearghail, with the discussion lasting more than an hour- and-a-half.
Mr Robinson, who met Mr O Fearghail as DUP leader, rather than as first minister, was photographed shaking hands with the GAA head, who described the meeting as “friendly and constructive”.
Last night the Evangelical Protestant Society, whose secretary is Wallace Thompson, a DUP member and former adviser to Nigel Dodds, said that it hoped there would be no attempts to pressurise DUP members who oppose the mass on theological grounds to attend Catholic services.
In a statement on behalf of the group, Mr Thompson said that it “fully respects the principles of civil and religious liberty”, but added that it long-standing position was that “no evangelical Protestant should attend the Roman Catholic mass under any circumstances”.
“We hold to the mainstream historical view as summarized by, for example, the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Thirty-Nine Articles.
“It will therefore come as no surprise that the Evangelical Protestant Society does not share the first minister’s position on this matter.
“We note that the first minister has stressed that his decision is a personal one and that others of his colleagues might have a different view.
“In light of this, we would therefore hope that no attempts will now be made by the usual suspects to demonise or persecute those evangelical Protestants who come to conclusions contrary to those of Mr Robinson.”
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light showers
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