Unionists
unprepared for prisoner releases
From IRISH TIMES June 2nd, 1998
Whilst recognising that some prisoners have taken a significant lead in
moving people away from violence and that international experience indicates
that prisoner release had been part of a process to make peace, I nonetheless
feel a great sense of injustice, and hope and pray that our society does
not live to regret the day when our prisons are half-empty because all the
terrorists have gone home to be engaged in "the next phase of the struggle".
There is no doubt that there is much in the agreement to commend and that
it is imperative for all Christians to seek to live at peace with everyone
and to promote the conditions where trust, peace and harmony can flourish.
But let us not throw caution to the wind. In taking risks let us not go
mad. The Rev William Bingham is a Presbyterian minister at Pomeroy, Co Tyrone.
He is also deputy Grand-Chaplain of the Orange Order |
