Press Releases
BISHOP HARPER IS OUTRAGED AT CEMETERY VANDALISM
The Church of Ireland Bishop of Connor, the Rt Revd Alan Harper, today expressed his deep sense of distress, outrage and sadness at the demonstrations of sectarian hatred and acts of vandalism at Carnmoney Cemetery.
Bishop Harper said: ‘These events at Carnmoney Cemetery and St Mary’s on the Hill Roman Catholic Church together with the threat issued by loyalist paramilitaries to the life and personal well-being of the Rev Fr Dan Whyte shame us all and fill me with a deep sense of distress, outrage and above all sadness.
‘The vandalisation of graves and gravestones is a despicable act striking at the deep human need we all share to remember with appropriate respect our departed loved ones. Vandalism at a place of worship seeks to strike at the worship of Almighty God himself as well as the community that gathers in that place of worship.
‘Moreover threats to the life of a person whose vocation is to the pastoral care and spiritual leadership of a Christian community are an offence to God and to all the people of God.
‘These actions seem calculated deliberately to fuel community tension and destabilize community relationships in Carnmoney.
‘My hope is that people will refuse to be manipulated in this way and that the community will stand together in mutual support.
‘I would ask the same had the bigots targetted protestant churches, burial places and clergy as indeed they have in the past.’
Further information from:
THE CHURCH OF IRELAND PRESS OFFICE
Church of Ireland House
61 - 67 Donegall Street
Belfast BT1 2QH
Tel: (028) 9023 2909
Fax: (028) 9032 3554
Email:The Press Office