This marked a significant departure from the past, where leaders openly identified with Protestantism.

In a poignant moment at Stormont Parliament Building, O'Neill, representing the Irish Catholic community, pledged to serve as a leader for all, extending an olive branch to her unionist counterparts.

"To all of you who are British and unionist, your national identity, your cultures, your traditions are important to me. Let's walk this two-way street together, let's meet one another halfway. I will be doing so with an open hand and also with heart" O'Neill said.

"This is an assembly for all — Catholic, Protestant and dissenter" O'Neill added. "Despite our different outlooks and views on the future constitutional position, the public rightly demands that we cooperate, deliver and work together."

Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, extended his prayers and blessings to the newly appointed First Minister Michelle O'Neill, Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, members of the Northern Ireland Executive, and MLAs.

In his post, Archbishop Martin emphasised the importance of unity and collaboration in addressing the pressing challenges facing families, the impoverished and the vulnerable within society.

Groups threaten stability

O'Neill's road ahead is fraught with challenges, particularly concerning the presence of paramilitary groups and lingering tensions from past conflicts. Despite progress since the Good Friday Agreement, these groups still threaten stability, undermining reconciliation efforts.

Despite Sinn Féin's historical association with Irish Catholics, O'Neill and the party are at odds with Church teaching on several issues. For example, Sinn Féin supported the increase in access to abortion, and the party supports children having access to transgender drugs.

The complex dynamics of Northern Ireland's political landscape, compounded by Brexit-related issues, have hindered the functioning of Stormont.

The collapse of power-sharing arrangements in 2017 and subsequent struggles have highlighted the fragility of the peace process.

The appointment of O'Neill, achieved through painstaking negotiations and agreements, signifies a renewed commitment to governance and stability.

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Politico

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The Agreement committed Northern Ireland's political parties to resolving political issues by democratic and peaceful methods.

Speaking on the Agreement's 20th anniversary, the Catholic Church Primates of All Ireland say it "took a great effort to achieve".

It "will equally take risk and leadership at all levels to maintain," they say.

The Agreement included establishing a power-sharing government involving parties representing the majority Protestant population and minority Catholic population and removing border security between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

It also led to decommissioning the Irish Republican Army and Protestant paramilitary organisations' weapons.

The Agreement explicitly rejects using or threatening violence and emphasises the principles of "partnership, equality and mutual respect" as the "basis of relationships".

Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, Eamon Martin, and his Church of Ireland counterpart, Archbishop Richard Clarke, say the Agreement has continuing potential to transform society and life for all.

"Nothing remotely its equal has been outlined then or since," they said.

They both pray the Agreement's anniversary will help "rekindle a spirit of opportunity, healing and hope for lasting peace" which they say is needed more than ever.

They are calling on all people of good will to be ambassadors of reconciliation, helping to rebuild trust and mutual respect.

Martin and Clarke are concerned about a political impasse in Northern Ireland that has continued since January 2017.

It concerns the collapse of the power-sharing government in Stormont, which collapsed over a row between the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Féin.

They are challenging the institutions to ask themselves "is it because the principles and structure of the Good Friday Agreement have failed us, or rather, is it that we have together failed to make the most of those supportive principles which it offered?"

They paid tribute to the efforts of the international community who not only invested significantly in the process which led to the Agreement, but who "have remained alongside us as our partners for peace."

Source

• The Tablet
• Crux Now
• Image: Catholic Ireland

Irish political party Sinn Fein has been accused of covering up for IRA sex abusers by moving them from Northern Ireland to the Irish republic.

Ireland's Parliament recently debated the claims of Belfast woman Mairia Cahill, who was raped by an alleged IRA member when she was 16.

Ms Cahill was subsequently forced to come face-to-face with her rapist in a harrowing kangaroo court scenario.

MP Joan Burton challenged Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald to apply the same standards as she did when condemning the Catholic Church's cover-up of sex abuse.

"In particular, does she apply this standard to the ‘powerful man' who leads her own party?" asked Ms Burton.

Another MP Regina Doherty said she had the names of eight alleged abusers relocated to the republic by Sinn Féin.

She said she would forward these to the police.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said there were as many as 28 victims of abuse by members of the Provisional IRA.

"This abuse was covered up within the movement and continues to be covered up to this day," said Mr Martin.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said he accepted Ms Cahill had been abused.

Mr Adams conceded the IRA response was inadequate, and said the organisation shot and expelled abusers.

But beyond that he said he knew nothing of the details.

He asserted that a case of alleged IRA cover-up had morphed to a claim where Sinn Féin facilitated sex abuse.

"I reject the charge," he said.

Mr Adams accused the other party leaders of playing politics and using smear tactics because they feared the growing strength of Sinn Féin.

Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny said the IRA had "covered up abuse, moved the perpetrators around so the untouchables would remain untouchable" outside Northern Ireland.

Another MP told Mr Adams she would "not believe the Lord's Prayer from his mouth".

Sources

• Irish Times
• Irish Times
• Irish Independent
• Belfast Telegraph
• Image: Irish Independent

Rev. Paisley died in Belfast on September 12, aged 88. He had a history of heart ailments.

He served as First Minister of Northern Ireland for a year when power was first devolved from London in 2007.

His deputy, Martin McGuinness of Sinn Féin, expressed sadness at the news of his death.

"Over a number of decades we were political opponents and held very different views on many, many issues, but the one thing we were absolutely united on was the principle that our people were better able to govern themselves than any British government," he said.

For many years, Rev. Paisley's incendiary rhetoric stoked anti-Catholic violence.

Michael Kelly, editor of the Irish Catholic newspaper, tweeted that Rev. Paisley "fanned the flames of hatred and murder".

But Mr Kelly expressed sorrow for the Paisley family.

Rev. Paisley rose to prominence in the 1960s at the start of "the Troubles", in which Northern Ireland was engulfed in sectarian violence between Catholics and Protestants.

He led Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, but it was said that he was as helpful to Catholic constituents as to Protestants.

He served in Britain's House of Commons for three decades and was elected to the European Parliament in 1979.

It was in the European Parliament in 1988, during an address by St John Paul II, that he held up a sign saying "Anti-Christ" and started shouting "I renounce you" before being forcibly removed.

He is also infamous for saying of Catholics in 1969: "They breed like rabbits and multiply like vermin."

He said he considered all Catholics to be members of the Irish Republican Army, which he branded as a collective of terrorists.

In 2010, Rev. Paisley led protests against the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Britain.

But his rhetoric wasn't always directed against Catholics. In 1985, he labelled Margaret Thatcher a "wicked, treacherous and lying woman".

For decades, Rev. Paisley had rejected any form of political compromise with Northern Ireland's Catholic minority.

But, during the Troubles, Rev. Paisley began visiting Dublin to probe various political possibilities for the future.

He became Northern Ireland's co-leader in 2007 after entering an agreement with Sinn Féin, the political arm of the IRA.

Sources

• Catholic Herald
• The Guardian
• Washington Post
• Image: BBC

A Sinn Fein motion to introduce same-sex marriage legislation is likely to be defeated in the Northern Ireland assembly next week.

Unionist parties will introduce a "petition of concern" against the move.

Under the rules of the Stormont assembly, legislation cannot pass if the representatives of one community refuse to support a new bill, thus ensuring that no one section of the divided populace can impose laws on the other.

Before the vote, the Catholic hierarchy wrote to every assembly member to urge them to reject the bill.

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The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill — the first legislation allowing abortion in the Republic of Ireland — passed its second stage by 138 votes to 24.

Abortion is currently illegal in Ireland but the bill would allow abortions to take place where there is deemed to be a risk to the life of the mother, including if there is a threat of suicide.

Four politicians who defied their leader, Prime Minister Enda Kenny, by voting against the bill have been expelled from the governing Fine Gael Party and told to vacate their offices.

A Sinn Fein politician also defied his party, and a Sinn Fein spokesman said this was regarded as a serious breach of party rules and he would face unspecified disciplinary action.

The Sinn Fein politician, Peadaar Toibin said: "It is with great sadness that I have had to separate from my party on this, but I cannot vote for a medical evidence-free bill that will result in the death and disablement of children."

Just hours before the vote, Cardinal Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of Ireland, appealed to Fine Gael politicians to rebel against Mr Kenny.

"In practice, the right to life of the unborn child will no longer be treated as equal. The wording of this bill is so vague that ever wider access to abortion can be easily facilitated," said Cardinal Brady.

In an earlier statement, the cardinal said: "This bill will provide the widest possible legal justification for deliberately and intentionally destroying the life of the unborn child, with no time limits and no mechanism for ensuring that the right to life of the unborn is adequately vindicated as required by Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution. In practice, the right to life of the unborn child will no longer be treated as equal."

Sources:

BBC

Catholic Herald

Zenit

Image: BBC