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!