Ian Paisley addresses ecumenical service?
The transformation of Ian Paisley is clearly not yet complete. Many seasoned observors of politics and religion in Northern Ireland will be surprised, to say the least, to learn that the First Minister recently attended and gave the address at an event in Ballymena marking the centenary of scouting in mid-Antrim. Roman Catholic priest Fr Paul Symonds led prayers at the event and is featured in a report on tomorrow's Sunday Sequence exploring the future of Free Presbyterianism following the resignation of Dr Paisley as the church's Moderator. I'll also be interviewing Father Symonds about the event. The event took place at The Peoples Park in Ballymena on Sat, 29 December, when Dr Paisley was still, technically, Moderator of his church.
His successor as Moderator was elected last night at a meeting of minsiters and elders in Dungannon Free Presbyterian Church. I don't like to call attention to my colleagues's misspellings -- just in case they trawl through my many blunders on this site -- but the new Moderator's name has been widely misspelt by the press, even in headlines. He is the Rev Ron Johnstone (with an "e"), who previously held office as deputy Moderator.
Update: Dr Paisley contacted Sunday Sequence personally to give the programme a statement clarifying his involvement in the service with Fr Paul Symonds. This statement is uncluded below.
Statement given to Sunday Sequence by the Rev Ian Paisley on Sunday 20 January 2008
I would like to state categorically, that I consented to no such service in Ballymena. I was asked by the scouts to attend a celebration of their movement. And they also asked me to read the scriptures and to pray and then say a few words. When I arrived at the service, those arrangements were completely changed. The priest concerned maintained on Sunday Sequence that I had agreed to taking part with him with in the service. This is totally untrue. I was never officially told that the services order had been changed and I would not have agreed to take part in an ecumenical service. I was quite happy to speak to the scouts and also to stand with them when they took their pledge of allegiance to The Queen.
Comments
This is amazing. After years attacking those who have taken part in ecumenical services, Paisley is now doing it himself!?! I'm speechless. He should apologise to all those churchmen he has insulted and abused over the years. Its goood that Paisley has finally done this, but its mostly astonishing taht he's done it! What happened to the anti-christ business??
What a nonsense of a statement from Ian Paisley. The fact remains that he took part in a service with a priest even though for years he criticised others for this. The priest says Paisley knew that he would be there in advance. I have no reason to doubt Fr Paul's word on that. This is a desperate attempt by Ian Paisley to rewrite history. He didn't expect the press to hear about this. They did. Now he's tracing his steps backwards.
So the question is: Paisley, the reformed reformer, finding new ways to appreciate his fellow human beings and a new tolerance for the variety of things which they hold dear, or Paisley, the loyal but recently misunderstood mainstay, believe it or believe it not?