Anglican bishop speaks at Mass in Ballymena

An Anglican bishop in the North spoke at Mass today to express inter-church solidarity following a series of sectarian attacks on Catholic churches and schools in Co Antrim.

Church of Ireland Bishop of Connor Alan Harper, said more than words of condemnation were needed and urged political and religious leaders to be seen to join together publicly against sectarianism.

He visited churches in Ballymena, which has seen months of attacks.

Police put extra officers on the streets in recent days to try to prevent more attacks in the Protestant heartland.

Bishop Harper said he wanted to see more than statements of condemnation by community leaders.

“I would very much like to see churchmen and political leaders, people who have status in the community – who are perhaps people who are elected by the community to represent them – to find ways of modelling a kind of respectful, collaborative solidarity with one another.”

He stressed: “It doesn’t require any surrender of principle, what it requires is for people to stand together and be seen to stand together.”