An Orange Order chaplain, a member of a minority fundamentalist group in the order, has called for Unionist politicians Tom Elliott and Danny Kennedy to be expelled for attending the funeral mass of Constable Ronan Kerr.
The Newsletter reported this week – The attendance of the two senior UUP and Orange figures has largely gone without comment and last week the Orange Order gave a firm indication that it would not be pursuing the issue, stressing that it was crucial to show solidarity with the slain policeman’s family.
However, historic Orange rules explicitly prohibit members from attending a Roman Catholic service.
The Rev David McCarthy, an Orange chaplain and Presbyterian minister, said that while he had deep sympathy for the family of Constable Kerr, the Orange should expel members who attended his funeral.
Rev McCarthy, a leader in the traditionalist Orange lobby group Orange Reformation, said: “We were greatly dismayed to see some members of the Orange Order and so-called evangelical Protestants attend his funeral mass, which is explicitly forbidden in the rules of our institution.
“We believe the Roman Catholic mass is blasphemous and an affront to the once-and-for-all sacrifice of Christ on the cross.
“No Protestant should ever attend Roman Catholic worship. We call for these members to be expelled from the Orange institution, along with others who have recently met with the Parades Commission, contrary to Grand Lodge policy. Rules are rules and they must be upheld.”
However, an Orange Order spokesman said that it was right for the murdered policeman’s family to realise that they had support from every section of the community.
He said: “It was important that the Kerr family understood the widespread support for them throughout the community and the Orange Order offers its sincere sympathy to them on the loss of their brave son.”
The Orange Reformation group was set up almost two years ago in an attempt to “put Protestantism back into Orangeism”.
However, while publicly vocal it has failed to change the course of the Order or to stop events, such as Orangefest, to which it objects.
Senior Orange figures are dismissive of the group’s support within the Order and it is understood that its meetings attract less than 100 members.