Presbyterians should rebuke the amnesty proposal instead of review it

With regard to the article in your paper ‘Church opts to wait and see’, Thursday July 15 (see link below).

Once again it would appear the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church is on the wrong side of this debate with his ambivalent and lethargic response to the current legacy proposals.

The statement on behalf of the Presbyterian Church reinforces their inability to confidently articulate the universal outrage which permeates throughout the victims constituency at present.

Instead, I feel they have patronised victims by reverting back to their baseline mantra “the need for reconciliation” — how insulting!

The innocent people of Northern Ireland have been patient, compassionate and tolerated much in the name of ‘reconciliation’ over many years, despite our continued hurt.

Our moral and Christian expectations of justice have been sacrificed on the altar of political expediency for the sake of the peace process.

The church stated in their response, “We will take time to review what the Secretary of State has said.”

What is there to review?

The present Tory administration are intending to pass legislation for an amnesty to betray the terrorist victims of the Presbyterian church.

This is now an opportunity for all church leaderships to stand with victims and issue a collective and assertive rebuke.

Many of the innocent victims are broken today and many of us feel betrayed.

Everyone needs to stand up for the innocent dead who gave their all for true “reconciliation” and peace.

Sammy Heenan, Rathfriland, Co Down

Church takes a ‘wait-and-see’ approach to Troubles amnesty

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