By Msgr. Noel C. Burtenshaw

They are both 18. They are like teenage boys anywhere in the Western world. They poke fun at each other, they like girls, rock music and rock groups. They seem to take nothing seriously, that is until you ask them about their hometown. Then they change. Then you find they are different.

Tom and Philip are from Belfast in Northern Ireland. Tom is a Catholic and Philip is a Protestant. That difference means nothing as they recreate in the U.S. It means a lot when they go back to Belfast.

It is a tragic scene.

Tom McGuigan and Philip Lewis were in Atlanta for the summer. Along with two teenage girls, Bernadette Lavelle and Julie Thompson, they spent their summer in Marietta. They all came to this area on a program which brings Catholic and Protestant children together, away from the troubled areas in which they live, so that each can enjoy a holiday and get to know each other.

Over the years, the program has worked. The youths certainly enjoy themselves and get to know each other. But all will admit that after the young people return home to the war torn province in Northern Ireland very often the friendship ends.

One of the host couples was Fred and Karen Kloman. They hosted the girls and are a Protestant family. “Don’t forget,” said Fred, “this thing is going to take time. If these young people pass the message of friendship along to their children, if they remember and talk of the good times, then something marvelous will happen eventually.”

The two boys sit at Fred’s kitchen table and agree. Down the road, who knows, good may come.

But what about now? They are most serious as the question is asked; they look at the table and express their doubts.

Could Tom leave his Catholic area in Belfast and go visit Philip in his Protestant neighborhood. “I believe he could,” says Philip. Could Philip reciprocate? “No,” says Tom, “he could not.” Why? “Well, we don’t mix with Protestants, we have different things we want.” What kinds of things? “Well,” says Tom, “we want a free Ireland, a united Ireland and they don’t.”

Philip understands but is also adamant on this point. “We think Northern Ireland is free. We like the middle ground. We don’t want England; we don’t want a united Ireland. We want things the way they are.”

“Yes,” says Tom, “but the way things are means we are arrested and put in jail without being charged and we don’t get a fair chance at jobs.”

Philip agrees, “There has been discrimination against Catholics. But that’s not there that much anymore. The middle way for us all is to have things the way they are now.”

So you ask Philip this question, if England decides to go away and take its subsidy to the province with them, then what will happen.

Philip has no doubt. “There will be war. Catholics and Protestants will fight each other on the streets.”

Would both boys like to have peace and friendship at home? They seem puzzled at the question. They only know division back there.

It is hard to see Northern Ireland as a united peaceful place.

If the British army left the province, would both communities obey the police? The boys laugh at the suggestion. “We don’t have police in our area,” says Tom. “We have the IRA (Irish Republican Army). They police us. The police never come in. They can’t.” Why not you ask?

“They did too much to us. So they can’t come and Catholics won’t join the police force. We don’t trust the ‘peelers’ (police).”

Philip agrees about the tough police image in Northern Ireland. “But,” he says, “they are hard on us all. They hit us Protestants too.” Both boys agree that only very few police officers in Northern Ireland are Catholic.

While the girls, Julie, 15, and Bernadette, 14, spent the summer with the Klomans, the boys were with a Catholic couple, Dana and Mark Tarpin. The Tarpins are parishioners of St. Ann’s in East Marietta. Dana Tarpin expresses great fondness for her two visitors. Julie and Bernadette hope to see each other when they return to Northern Ireland.

The two boys are asked if they see hope for Northern Ireland. “The terrorists are at fault,” says Philip. “They are the real problem. The IRA and the UDF (Ulster Defense Force) are the big trouble. If they would stop, maybe the trouble would go away.” Tom may agree. If he does, he remains silent. He is not quite willing to agree with the condemnation.

The boys are most unwilling to admit that they have girlfriends at home. Philip insists with a laugh that a blushing Tom has a girl. Would they date girls of a religion other than their own?” “That’s out of the question,” says Philip most adamantly. “It would be too hard, no way at all.” Tom thinks a moment and then somewhat reluctantly agrees. It would be too painful.

But they see one bright spot for the future. Both agree that hope lies in sport. “This year,” says Philip, “Barry McGuigan became fly-weight champion fighter of the world. He is a Catholic and he is married to a Protestant girl. But everyone followed his success. When he fought in England 12,000 people of both communities went to see him. They all cheered for him.”

Tom agreed that his champion was a bright spot for those living in Northern Ireland. Perhaps out of that sport, a hometown fighter, some peace will come to the factions where both live.

Soon their Marietta experience will end and they will return to Northern Ireland. Tom is in a job program. Philip is still at school. Without words being expressed, you feel the friendship has developed and they will remember this summer in Georgia.

It will take many more summers and many more generous, healing sponsors like Fred and Karen Kolman and like Dana and Mark Tarpin before a new day will dawn for the people of Northern Ireland. But for now there is hope.