Paisley's dig at Peter

Paisley’s dig at Peter

In response to the Belfast Telegraph's article on Ian Paisley’s new dig at his successor, Peter Robinson; I would like to offer the following comment. Rev Ian Paisley will have to do much more than hand out digs and hints, if ever this outrageous proposal of integrated education is to be dealt with. Mr Robinson, as Ed Curran suggests, may have used part of the proposal, which called for the removal of funding from Catholic education, as a means of uniting his party behind him, in a fashion associated with Paisleyism of old. The DUP leader may well have played a very clever political trick, which he thinks will be beneficial in the forth coming elections; however what he has actually done, is to open a can of worms for Paisleyism to sort out before evangelical Protestants.

What I mean by this is that through the Robinson proposal, Paisleyism is advocating integrated education in Ulster; this is the very antithesis of everything that Paisleyism stood for in the past; have they forgotten the messages preached on such texts as ‘Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,’ (2Cor6:17) In the past Rev Ivan Foster championed the cause of Independent Christian schools as an alternative to integrated secular based education; now the Free Presbyterian Chairman of the Assembly’s Education Committee supports his DUP leader’s proposal, by calling it ‘forward-looking and inclusive’.

In the Robinson proposal, Paisleyism is perceived to be suggesting that a commission be established to bring about the integration of both traditions, Catholic and Protestant. This makes an entire mockery of their former separatist stand against ecumenism; moreover, this proposal brings into question their former stand against apostasy and spiritual compromise, because it necessitates the Reformed Faith to negotiate a compromise position with Roman Catholicism on the matter of assembly and religious education.
When Rev Brian McClung was asked to comment on the proposal of integrated education, he tactfully supported the part that suggested the withdrawal of funding from Catholic education, but did not comment directly on the proposal of integrated education.

Clearly, explanations and straight answers are required from both wings of Paisleyism on the great controversy that has arisen over the proposal of integrated education. The DUP must clarify what they have proposed on such an important subject as education; while at the same time the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster must show consistency with their former separatist position, not only with regard to this proposal but also with regard to support and participation in a power sharing executive that includes former unrepentant terrorists; these are moral issues worthy of urgent consideration.

Rev Mervyn Cotton (Heb13:6)