Protestant fraternity leaders meet with Irish archbishop

Published: 2006-06-06

ARMAGH, Northern Ireland (CNS) -- Members of two of the largest Protestant fraternities, known as "the Loyal Orders," met with Archbishop Sean Brady of Armagh June 5. It was the first meeting of its kind between the archbishop, president of the Irish bishops' conference, and members of the Loyal Orange Lodge and the Royal Black Preceptory, two of the fraternities known for their summer parades through Catholic neighborhoods. "Coming into a time when tensions often rise in Northern Ireland, the symbolism of such a meeting is a powerful one," Archbishop Brady said in a statement after the meeting. "In a divided society the temptation is always to remain among one's own people. The desire of the leadership of the Loyal Orders to come to Armagh today represents their willingness to go beyond the barriers of history," the statement said. "It represents a desire to explain the customs, principles and values of their organizations to leaders in the Catholic community. This is to be greatly welcomed."

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