The Council on Social Responsibility of the Methodist Church in Ireland have issued a call for prayer for the House of Lords as it debates the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill.

This Government legislation which has gone through the House of Commons has been widely criticised by most groups who have considered it – this includes, political parties, victims’ groups and churches. The church voice was most eloquently and powerfully expressed in an opinion piece in the Financial Times (22 Nov) written jointly by the two Archbishops of Armagh. 

Among several important things, they say this:

“Reconciliation in both the religious and civil senses involves the restoration of relationships; it requires patience, the slow building of trust leading to courageous truth telling, and immense forbearance. Nothing in this bill goes anywhere near providing the environment for that to take place. Perhaps the very opposite.”

It is bizarre that the Bill has the word ‘Reconciliation’ in its title and scattered liberally throughout its contents and yet there is no attempt to define it or explain what it might mean!

In meetings with the Secretary of State, and with Lord Caine who will steer the legislation through the House of Lords, we have been encouraged to think that the Government has listened to many of the criticisms made and that they will allow a significant number of amendments that are in the pipeline from a variety of sources.

If this is so, perhaps we may in the end be left with the least worst option. We should at least be left with a Bill where victims’ needs are put first, the concerns of society as a whole come next and the wishes of perpetrators is put last. 

Rev Dr David Clements 
Chair of the Council on Social Responsibility (Northern)

22.11.22