Free Presbyterian Protest against "Jesus Christ Superstar” at Newry Town Hall

A Free Presbyterian protest took place last night in Newry against the blasphemous musical "Jesus Christ Superstar". The following account is given by Rev Paul Hanna, minister of Mount Merrion FPC, one of the ministers who organised the protest. [Film footage of the protest is included at the end of this report.]

Around 6:30pm on the cold, brisk evening of Thursday 14th March 2019, a crowd of concerned Free Presbyterians started to gather outside the front of Newry Town Hall.

Do DUP members, supporters and elected representatives agree with Arlene Foster attending Requiem Mass for an unrepentant Terrorist?

News that Arlene Foster, DUP leader and previous First Minister who served alongside Martin McGuinness, will attend his requiem mass raises an obvious question: Do DUP's members, supporters and elected representatives agree with Arlene Foster attending Requiem Mass for an unrepentant Terrorist?

Arlene Foster is attending as DUP party Leader. She is going as the DUP's representative. Therefore it is right to ask the question: Do DUP members, supporters and elected representatives agree with Arlene Foster attending Requiem Mass for an unrepentant Terrorist?

Silence is taken as tacit agreement and consent. Failure to speak out makes those who hold their tongue a partaker in her actions. Is this the 'outreach' envisaged by those who have called for such things in recent days?

Loyalty to the Law of God and the Truth of God is more important than loyalty to any party or organisation.

The attendance of Arlene Foster at this requiem mass for an unrepentant Terrorist is wrong on two accounts. Firstly, it is wrong when it is remembered that McGuinness was unrepentant to the bitter end regarding his IRA past. What difference is there between McGuinness and the Islamic Terrorist who caused mayhem, destruction and death yesterday in London? Absolutely none at all!

Secondly, and even more importantly, it is wrong when it is remembered that the Mass is a blasphemy against Jesus Christ and something injurious to the Saviour's honour and His finished work on the cross for sinners.

It is loyalty to Christ that requires us to declare whether we are in agreement with this or not?

Orange Order elects a Grand Secretary who wants permission for Orangemen to attend the Mass

The Orange Order has elected Irish Presbyterian minister Rev Mervyn Gibson to serve as the Grand Secretary of the Orange Order.

This is in spite of, or maybe because of, his recent comments where he expressed a desire that members of the Orange Order would be allowed to attend The Mass without the threat of discipline.

Forbidden attendance

At present the Orange Order has a rule that forbids members to attend or take part in a Roman Catholic Mass. This rule is seldom applied as evidenced when the then Ulster Unionist Party leader Tom Elliott and the then Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy were not disciplined for attending the funeral of a murdered Roman Catholic PSNI officer, although a complaint was made against them.

Rev Gibson when questioned, in an interview, about his own personal opinion of the rule stated that he would like to see the rule go.

His justification for doing so is that he believes his faith is strong enough to be permitted to attend the Mass.

No Pope Here! Why? #1 His Blasphemous Claims

The reasons for opposing a visit by the Roman antichrist are numerous. One reason is the many blasphemous statements made by the Pope of Rome. History is replete with the statements made by different Popes or else made by other Romanists about the Papacy. They have never been shy in stating their claims. Rome might be a little embarrassed in modern times about the antics of her priests, bishops and Popes but these claims have never been denied or disowned.

For example:
Cardinal Manning in a sermon in the Pro Cathedral, Kensington, and reported in the Tablet [weekly Catholic newspaper] 9th October 1864 said: [speaking in the name of the Pope]
I acknowledge no civil superior, I am the subject of no prince, and I claim more than this, I claim to be the supreme judge on earth and director of the consciences of men, I am the last supreme judge of what is right and wrong.

A new low in blasphemy!

A play which portrays our Lord Jesus Christ as a transsexual is being staged in Belfast, as part of a sodomite promoting Arts Festival.  The play is entitled: The Gospel According to Jesus, Queen of Heaven.

What makes this more grievous is that this festival is being publicly-funded. 

For more details see these links: 

BBC news - Play featuring Jesus as transgender to be performed in Belfast

Christian Institute - ‘Transsexual Jesus’ play to be aired at Belfast festival

The Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster released a statement outlining their opposition to this new low in blasphemy. Although it seems not to have been picked up by the local press. The statement reads:

Dear sir,
Your paper on Monday contained the details of a theatre production. This production is a blatant blasphemous attack on the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ and deeply offensive to the Christian community.

Blasphemy is defined as the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God.

Failure to oppose a papal visit is a cowardly betrayal of Protestantism

It is reported on the BBC website that unionist members of Belfast City Council have abstained on whether to invite the pope to Belfast. See here. Part of the report reads:
DUP councillor Lee Reynolds said the motion presented by the SDLP "was essentially an election stunt and it wasn't a game we were willing to play". "They were wanting an insult and we weren't going to give them that, so we chose the path of abstention."

Ulster Unionist councillor Jim Rodgers, who had previously spoken out against issuing an invitation to the Pope, said he had decided to abstain after "giving the issue a lot of thought".

"I am concerned at the likelihood of trouble on our streets ... and I don't want any religious or civic leader coming here to find themselves offended and see violence on a large scale," he said.

Belfast Newsletter - Robinson: if safe, Pope can visit

Failure to oppose such an invitation is a cowardly betrayal of Protestantism. This is politics without principle! Are they ashamed of being Protestants? Is it a fear of scorn by the religious and secular liberals that makes them abstain? Is it base political calculation that is at work? Or has the rot of ecumenism infected these politicans so much that they meekly refuse to stand up for truth and righteousness? It could be all these and more!

They wouldn't do it to Allah or Muhammad!!

In January 2008, Gordon Brown's Labour Government announced that they would consider the abolition of the blasphemy laws during the passage of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill through Parliament.

In March 2008 the House of Lords voted for the laws to be abolished and on 8th May 2008, the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 passed through the House of Commons bringing to an end the common law offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libel in England and Wales.  The law was to take effect from 8th July 2008.

At the time it was said that the blasphemy law was outdated and no one had been prosecuted under that law for some considerable time. 

The Labour Government consulted with the Church of England and other churches before reaching a decision. Leading figures within the Church of England, including Lord Carey, former Archbishop of Canterbury, shamefully urged that the laws be repealed. 

The harvest of that repeal has begun to come forth this past week!

A 19 minute long film entitled 'Visions of Ecstasy' and banned for 23 years under these blasphemy laws has now been passed for release, uncut, and given an '18 certificate', which enables it now to be shown in parts of the United kingdom.

Jesus Christ Superstar - an utter blasphemy!!!

The 'rock opera' entitled 'Jesus Christ Superstar' is once again coming to the Grand Opera House, Belfast.

The Ulster Operatic Company is staging Jesus Christ Superstar to mark the 40th anniversary of the original stage production on Broadway in 1971. The Grand Opera House's website states:

Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera that highlights the political and interpersonal struggles between Judas Iscariot and Jesus. It is based loosely on the Gospels’ account of the last week of Jesus’ life, beginning with the preparation for the arrival of Jesus and his disciples in Jerusalem, and ending with the crucifixion.

Jesus Christ Superstar was the first musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice to be produced for the professional stage.

This 'rock opera' is highly questionable, insulting to Christians and ultimately blasphemous to Christ.

Leaving aside the medium of an opera and a rock opera at that, when the name, character and work of our Saviour Jesus Christ is slandered, in the fashion that it is in this opera, we need to raise our objection to it. It would be a dereliction of duty to Christ to remain silent.

If someone slanders the name and character of our best friend we would be so rightly incensed that we would have to show our disgust and opposition to such a thing. In highlighting our opposition to this opera we are showing our disgust at those who slander the name and person of Jesus Christ.

More opposition to attending the Mass

Five other Free Presbyterian ministers have spoken out against attending the Mass.

Rev Ivan Foster, retired minister:
Burning Bush website - The true nature of the Mass

Rev David Creane, minister in Lurgan FPC:
Lurgan Mail -

Rev John Greer, minister in Ballymena FPC:
Sermonaudio - Attendance at the Mass forbidden by Scripture

Rev Thomas Martin, minister in Lisburn FPC:
Newsletter: Robinson ought to rethink Mass views

Dr Stephen Pollock, minister in Kilskeery FPC:
Sermonaudio - Why Christians should not attend the Roman Catholic Mass

Update Tuesday 19th April - The Newsletter this morning reports on the opposition of Revs Creane & Greer click here

Update Saturday 23rd April

Other Free Presbyterian ministers who have preached against the Mass in the past:

Office bearers of Presbytery:
Rev Ron Johnstone, minister in Newtownards FPC:
Sermonaudio - The Roman Catholic Mass - What it Means Preached 29th August 2010

Rev Ian Brown, minister in Londonderry FPC:
Sermonaudio - Should A Protestant Attend The Mass? Preached - 1st May 2005

Others:
Rev Paul Fitton, minister in Dungannon FPC:
Sermonaudio - The Mass - A Blasphemous Fable and a Dangerous Deceit- Preached 12th September 2010

Rev Thomas Martin, minister in Lisburn FPC:

Sermonaudio - Reformation: Why we should reject the Mass - Preached 28th October 2007

Dr Alan Cairns, Retired minister:
Sermonaudio - Repudiating the Blasphemous Idolatry of the Roman Mass Preached 7th October 2007

Sermonaudio - The Mass Vs. the Finished Work of Christ - Preached October 1982

Sermonaudio Let the Bible Speak - In Latin or English the Mass Is a Blasphemy - Preached 18th August 2007


Rev William McCrea, minister in Magherafelt FPC

Sermonaudio - The blasphemy of the mass Preached - 30th April 2006


Dr Mark Allison, minister in Malvern FPC, Pa, USA: - Preached - 31st October 2004
Sermonaudio - Lord's Supper Vs. Rome's Mass

Rev Reggie Cranston, minister in Port Hope FPC, Canada:

Sermonaudio - The Mass in the Light of Scripture - Preached 28th July 2002