I don't often bring up the issue of religion on this blog as it's not something I care to speak of much- live and let live, I say. However it is hard to ignore the blatant intolerance displayed by a DUP apparatchik on RTÉ radio this week.
Wallace Thompson, who is an advisor to DUP enterprise minister Nigel Dodds, said on air yesterday that the "Pope is the Antichrist." He also told the radio phone-in that he would oppose any visit to the north by the Pontiff.
If a senior official of a governing party anywhere else in Europe spouted this verbal detritus, there would be public outrage. Yet here in good ol' Northern Ireland, we're just supposed to accept this kind of anachronistic nonsense as if it were somehow normal. Not only that, but if we dare to criticise Paisley's party and its clearly unreformed views on the religious beliefs of a large section of the community here, we're accused of being stuck in the past and for looking for excuses to criticise the 'All New' DUP. With blindingly obvious idiocy such as that displayed by Thompson, added to the intolerance of Ian Paisley Jr displayed upon the pages of Hot Press magazine a few months ago, one doesn't exactly have to look far to find reason to censure the DUP.
And God forbid that people would criticise Sinn Féin for so jovially involving themselves in a sordid little love-in with a party which clearly despises the beliefs of a great many people whom the provisional party purport to represent. That would just be jealousy at the fact that they are now the largest nationalist party in the north, wouldn't it? Clearly we should turn a blind eye to the vicious background of Ian Paisley, the sectarian intolerance displayed down the years by the DUP, and underlying belief that all that went before was completely justified, eh? But I suppose that would come easy to the DUP/ Sinn Féin axis given that they both have a heritage which, from their point of view electorally, is safer forgotten.
However, smiles and suits don't hide the truth.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
DUP Anti-Catholicism In Full Flight
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13 comments:
Good point, El Mat.
Religious intolerance is rightly condemned when it emanates from Islam; the same should be the case for Christians (some of whom are more likely to be at it than others - take a bow Paisley et al).
I don't see why you threw in the reference to SF. For balance? Aren't the SDLP in the Executive with them as well? I look forward to hearing any of the Shinners AND Margaret Richie speaking out at Mr Thompson's inane sectarian rantings.
I don't know what it is but when people say stupid things based on their faith I find all the subsequent attacks on them at odds with freedom of religion.
When you start arguing that one religion is more ridiculous than the other you quickly get onto very perverse lines of argument.
If that is what he believes, that is what he believes. Not sure about the opposing a visit thing, but meh.
Unfortunately in a country that allows freedom of religion and freedom of speech he's allowed to say what he likes. And in a democratic country, the masses are as free to vote for mad ministers as they are to vote for mad bombers, regardless of the fact I find it quite depressing that they do so.
Reg-
The UUP and SDLP are indeed in the Executive with the DUP, but my point was in relation to the instant transformation from enemy to 'friend' by SF with regard to their dealings with the DUP. Let's not forget the sectarian stirrings the Paisleyites caused over the years- it's one thing to work with them, but it's another to form a jovial pact. To me it stinks of hypocrisy, especially when you see that the leopard hasn't actually changed its spots c.f. the comments by Thompson. If I were Deputy First Minister, I certainly wouldn't be found chuckling in tandem with Ian Paisley at every given opportunity.
Beano-
It's one thing holding religious views- it's another thing denegrating another's religious views and insulting them. I made no comment about Thompson's right to hold a particular set of religious views- he can think what he wants. My problem is with him seeking to attack other people's religious beliefs.
I agreed with the start of your piece, I though yeah you are right, why mention Sinn Féin? It is a pity that the SDLP continue to attack that party, espically when you are writing about DUP.
Seriously get over it.
El Mat - but part of his religious beliefs seem to be that the Pope is the anti-Christ. I have no idea what significance the Westminster Confession to each individual church (in fact I'm not sure I'd ever heard of it before today) but that's what he believes.
I think he's stupid, but that's just me. I think this is the logical outworking of affording religious views special treatment. I'm not sure whether or not that principle is a sound one, but it's one that we apply and we should do so consistently if at all.
I'm not sure the Pope being the anti-Christ is much more ridiculous than the idea that Mary ascended into heaven, for example. To a (convicted) Protestant that's probably blasphemy itself, I don't know.
I should add that in my own view Paisley is (was?) a small-time version of the Pope of his own church, but what do I know?
It is time for this man Thompson to grow up - are the rosary beads going to jump up and strangle him - I hardly think so!
Elmat your obsession with Sinn Fein is worrying. I bet you have nightmares at night thinking how did they get all them votes.
Oakleaf-
Are you my doctor? I thought that stuff I told you was confidential ;)
I think the gentleman in question is his own worst enemy. A growing majority of the population, regardless of religious affiliations, sees this type of dinosaur as irrelevant. As they spout off, people in general are more apt to see them as an increasingly marginalized segment of the lunatic fringe. "Hoist by his own petard" so to speak. We only face problems from fools like this when other fools, in growing numbers, start to listen. That ain't happenin'.
I agree with Bill - this so called christian country - where you have people at one anothers throats all the time over religion is ridiculous - why can't we be more like the Chuckle Bros - all light and warmth - Ha! Ha!
So a man who believes Joseph Ratzinger is the antichrist has offended members of the ‘One True Church’? Big deal. This sort of argument should have as much relevance as a debate between the Flat Earth Society and the Socialist Workers Party.
Isn’t this the point of Christianity/religion in general - that all the different sects hold views which, if aired frequently, would be offensive to another sect? The reason they’re not aired frequently is because the four main churches in this country try their best to be nice to each other in the name of ecumenism. Wallace Thompson just happens to be idiotic enough to publicly say what we all knew he thinks. He also believes the Earth is 5,000 years old for f*** sake!
But anyway, did you see Dolores Kelly’s comments in ‘The Irish News’ about this story? ‘This is what Catholics had to put up with for 30 years’. What? Is there a part of the GFA/Saint Andrews Agreement which calls for the abandonment of bizarre reformation theology? Idiot. The SDLP can do better than this halfwit. Thompson's comments would have been better ignored by all sides.
Johnnny Guitar
Religion and religious intolerance has caused more wars and death throughout the centuries - people in this day and age should be able to keep thier big traps shut ao others to get on with their own personal religious convictions without fear of insult or threat - and when it happens they should be permitted to tell the bigot that this is unjust, unfair and none of their business - if you think that people like Mr Thompson that should be ignored then fair enough but don't insult those who wish to voice their opposition to this man's bigotry
Rangers fan, my post wasn’t written with the intention of insulting Dolores Kelly. I merely disagree with her. She made a daft comment that Thompson’s remarks were “what the Catholic population had to listen to during 30 years of conflict.” To reiterate, Thompson’s views have nothing to do with the Troubles. References to the Pope being the antichrist are archaic 16th century Lutheran theological views which we would all be better off with out, just as we would be better off without Catholicism, Islam, Judaism and the whole alphabet soup of superstitions that you can choose from.
And the comments from nationalists on this subject were simply opportunistic. I somehow feel that had this been a front page article in ‘The Newsletter’ regarding a Sinn Fein politician who had stated on national radio that he believed the Catholic church to be “the one true church” we would have witnessed silence on the part of nationalists and hysteria on the part of offended unionists.
It was a non-story. We’ve all wasted far too much time on it!
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