SHARP EXCHANGES IN RUN-UP TO POPE’S ARRIVAL IN IRELAND
DUP SNUB TO PONTIFF ‘A LOST OPPORTUNITY’ ABUSE VICTIM SLAMS PAPAL LETTER OF REGRET ROW OVER McALEESE’S ‘RIGHT WING RALLY’ CLAIM
A CATHOLIC Ulster Unionist councillor has said Arlene Foster’s decision not to meet the Pope represents a “lost opportunity” for the DUP.
Antrim and Newtownabbey councillor Stephen McCarthy said it proved that the party’s “actions don’t match its words” in reaching out to Catholics in Northern Ireland.
The Alliance Party has also criticised the DUP’s decision not to send anyone to the event.
But South Down MLA Jim Wells said he understood the reasons for not attending.
The Irish Government invited Mrs Foster (below) to the address by Pope Francis in Dublin Castle on Saturday.
The DUP leader said she “appreciated the invitation”, but regrettably she would be away with her family at the time of the visit.
The DUP is not sending anyone else to represent the party.
UUP leader Robin Swann is also unable to attend as he will be taking part in the annual Black Saturday Parade in Larne. The party will be represented by Lagan Valley MLA Robbie Butler instead.
Mr McCarthy said: “This is an opportunity lost for the DUP. The Ulster Unionists are sending a representative, which is the right and respectful thing to do.
“It is a gesture towards observant Catholics in Northern Ireland and across the UK, who will appreciate a unionist attending an event addressed by the head of their church.”
The UUP councillor said the DUP could “easily have sent someone else” to Dublin Castle, and “not having anyone available is peculiar”.
Mr McCarthy pointed to previous comments by MPs Jeffrey Donaldson and Ian Paisley that more Catholics were voting DUP due to its stance on same-sex marriage and abortion.
He said: “If the DUP mean what they say, that the Union is for everyone and the future of the Union will be secured by everyone — as we do in the Ulster Unionist Party — they should have accepted the invitation.
“Not attending shows that the party’s actions don’t match its words.”
Mr McCarthy said that if the DUP was looking for support outside its traditional base, observant Catholics would be the most likely targets. “Not attending the papal event flies in the face of the party’s potential for electoral growth. It is yet further strategic short-sightedness from the DUP,” he added.
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong, who will represent her party at the event, said small gestures had helped build peace in Northern Ireland.
“When Paisley and McGuinness laughed together this place warmed up, and we thought, if they can get on, we can get on,” she said.
“Othergesturesovertheyears — the Queen speaking Irish, Sinn Fein meeting the royal family, those from parties previously opposed to LGBTQ rights taking part in Pride, among others — have also gone a long way to making this place work better.”
Ms Armstrong said the DUP leader was entitled to a holiday, but if she was “truly sincere” in her reasons for not attending, she would have sent someone else from the party. “They are political representatives and should attempt to represent everyone in society,” she added.
But Mr Wells said he understood the DUP’s position.
“Arlene has had an extraordinarily busy year and nobody could say she doesn’t deserve a holiday,” he said. “Most of the leadership will be taking part in Black Saturday, and others may have great difficulty in attending this event.”
Mr Wells said he shared such concerns. He added: “Leaving aside my theological differences with the Catholic Church, I would have difficulty taking part.
“The Pennsylvania report detailing the abuse of 1,000 children by 300 priests makes for grim reading. Even by the standard we are aware of regarding abuse in Ireland, this is in a different league. It is abuse on an industrial scale.”
The Pope will deliver a speech
at the World Meeting of Families in Dublin on Saturday, followed by Mass in Phoenix Park the following day.
Presbyterian Moderator Dr Charles McMullen will attend Saturday’s reception in Dublin Castle alongside other religious and civic leaders.
Dr McMullen and his wife Barbara will attend a concert at Croke Park at the invitation of Archbishop Eamon Martin.
The DUP said Mrs Foster acknowledged “the significance of this event for many Roman Catholics in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland”.