Saturday 1 October 2011

The Latimer Syndrome Spreads

David Latimer seems to be enjoying his celebrity status as Martin McGuinness' 'presbyterian chaplain' but he is doing it, and gaining these 'honours', by dancing on the graves of the people that McGuinness & Co sent to their deaths, including my youngest brother, Kenneth. 

His denomination, at both national and local levels, has been deafeningly silent about Dr Latimer's activities, in contradistinction to the way Rev Mervyn Gibson was brought before church authorities for walking down the Newtownards Road to the music of a hymn.  Is it a case that the Presbyterian Church in Ireland supports provo-lovers, but despises members of the orange order?  This seems to be the case, in the light of his church's recent activities.  It is very distressing for members of PCI to see their denomination applauding, by its silence, the very public support given by one of its ministers to a notorious terrorist leader, yet is prepared to take action against another minister who seeks to stand for Gospel principles. 

Indeed, the Moderator of that church is strangely quiet at present - does he also support what McGuinness has done to his own fellow members?  If not, then let him come out and say so.

Innocent victims of the IRA's terrorist campaign are especially hurt by Latimer's bare-faced support for a terrorist leader, and for a man whose organisation sent many Presbyterians et al to their untimely graves.  Whilst quite clearly there are Presbyterians who will support their church at all costs, and will go on supporting it regardless, others are much more discerning, and will now be re-assessing their position within that religious denomination.  But in all likelihood, such re-assessment will issue in no change, whatever hold a church has on its members.

But David Latimer ought to be thoroughly ashamed of himself, as ought his church.  But there again, "shame demands grace," and where there is "no grace" there will be "no shame." 

I am also wondering what Dr Lesley Carroll thinks of this - my suspicion is that she thinks that all such activity is excellent, and to pot with the innocent victims of the IRA.  She also demonstrates by her actions that every action that can be taken against Gospel ministers within PCI, ought to be done without undue delay. The very presence of these ministers is an annoyance that they could do well without.

PCI's deafening silence about this matter demonstrates that, as a church, it does not know much about true reconciliation, even at the horizontal level!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Fully agree. Actually presently reading "If these stones could speak" and it is making my blood boil. I read the chapter on Kenneth and was wandering if there was a connection to yourself. So sorry to learn that. I also read that there is a lecturn in 1st Londonderry Pres Church dedicated to a victim of Sinn Fein. This "minister" is a coward and obviously has no consideration whatsoever for the innocent victims. All i ever hear about are inquests into republicans who were killed. But nothing about the victims in the book. Nothing.

Anonymous said...

Just read my last post and hope it didnt read wrong. My last point is that i am sick of there only being "state collusion" type inquests. But there doesnt seem to be any inquests into the poor vivtims in the book.

Hazlett Lynch said...

Thank you for your comments, Colin. I share your concerns and views. I have no doubt that the focus of IRA victims of deliberate, as one attempt after another is being made by "the powers that be" to re-write the history of Northern Ireland.
Dr Latimer's involvement has caused great hurt to McGuinness's victims, but no one seems to care.
Yes, that was my brother Ken, about whom you read in that book.
Now the Finucane case has been raised yet again, and we'll have to wait to see what comes of that!
When the Gospel is held in contempt and derision, what else can we expect?