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02/11/2009
Robinson Challenged On 'No Pope' McCrea
A nationalist assemblyman has challenged the Stormont First Minister to respond to the controversial Anti-Pope sentient voiced by a fellow DUP member.
The SDLP's Declan O'Loan (pictured) said Peter Robinson must make his position clear on the views expressed by Ian McCrea, who referred to the Pope as the 'Anti-Christ'.
Mr McCrea is behind a 'No Pope here' campaign, which ignited following reports the Vatican was planning a trip to the UK next year, which could include a Papal visit to Northern Ireland.
Mr O'Loan said: "Plenty of time has now elapsed for Peter Robinson to respond to the totally unacceptable statements of Ian McCrea and other DUP members.
"He has a clear responsibility as leader of the DUP."
Mr O'Loan asked whether or not Mr Robinson endorses the statements: "Silence is not good enough. The statements by Ian McCrea show the deep wells of anti-Catholic prejudice that still exist here.
"The First Minister has a duty to show that his party has moved beyond that kind of position.
"Ian McCrea's views would have been repudiated by the leader of any other major party in the UK. So far, Peter Robinson has stayed silent."
Mr O'Loan said the situation pointed to "a failure of leadership in this divided society".
See: 'Nothing Sinister' In Anti-Pope Campaign
(PR/BMcC)
The SDLP's Declan O'Loan (pictured) said Peter Robinson must make his position clear on the views expressed by Ian McCrea, who referred to the Pope as the 'Anti-Christ'.
Mr McCrea is behind a 'No Pope here' campaign, which ignited following reports the Vatican was planning a trip to the UK next year, which could include a Papal visit to Northern Ireland.
Mr O'Loan said: "Plenty of time has now elapsed for Peter Robinson to respond to the totally unacceptable statements of Ian McCrea and other DUP members.
"He has a clear responsibility as leader of the DUP."
Mr O'Loan asked whether or not Mr Robinson endorses the statements: "Silence is not good enough. The statements by Ian McCrea show the deep wells of anti-Catholic prejudice that still exist here.
"The First Minister has a duty to show that his party has moved beyond that kind of position.
"Ian McCrea's views would have been repudiated by the leader of any other major party in the UK. So far, Peter Robinson has stayed silent."
Mr O'Loan said the situation pointed to "a failure of leadership in this divided society".
See: 'Nothing Sinister' In Anti-Pope Campaign
(PR/BMcC)
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