Orange Order Double Standards

Recently the Orange Order made a great play of honouring Martin Luther and the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. A major exhibition marking this 500th anniversary was opened at a museum run by the Orange Order in Belfast.

A display entitled Staunch And True at the Museum of Orange Heritage examines the impact and legacy of the event. The Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, Edward Stevenson, said: Our latest major exhibition provides an informative insight into the historical context of the Reformation and how its powerful legacy impacted and inspired future generations.

This the same Orange Order that refuses to discipline members who attend the Romish Mass, which is against the laws of the Orange Order. This has happened in the past when members attended funeral masses and recently when members attended requiem mass for Martin McGuinness.

How many Members, Officers, Lodges and Districts within the Orange Order will say or do anything about this breech of their rules? Virtually none of them! They will turn a blind a blind eye to what has happened. When or where opposition to attending the mass might be raised it sill not receive the necessary support to pursue the matter, which always becomes a convenient excuse for any who are challenged about it. However no one resigns in disgust at the compromise.

This is double standards. They pretend to honour Luther on one hand for his stand for Truth, yet on the other refuse to stand themselves for what is true. 

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.

The Principle of Magna Carta applied in the Gospel

This sermon was preached at Carnmoney District's Widows & Ophans Memorial Fund, Orange Service held in Newtownabbey FPC on Lord's day evening 28th June 2015.

June 2015 marks the 800th anniversary of the signing of Magna Carta. This sermon takes the central principle of that document, namely all men are subject to the law, and applies it in the Gospel.

Tom Elliott & Danny Kennedy to be disciplined by Orange Order for attending funeral Mass

The BBC are reporting that both Tom Elliott and Danny Kennedy are to face disciplinary proceedings because of their attendance at the Roman Catholic funeral Mass held for Ronan Kerr, the PSNI officer shot dead by republicans.

Read the full report here

It will be very interesting to watch how far this goes within the Orange Order. It is one thing to register a complaint and request disciplinary proceedings to commence, it is another thing altogether for it actually to happen.

I would be surprised, but nonetheless delighted, if it is successful!

Orange Chaplain has called for expulsions for attending the Mass

The Newsletter has reported that Rev David McCarthy, an Orange chaplain, has called for members of the Orange Order who attend the Mass to be expelled.

Read the full report here. 

Lets hope they do but I won't hold my breath!!

The Orange Order rejects the new parades legislation

Much to the annoyance no doubt of the political classes in Stormont the Orange Order is the latest body to join those rejecting the new proposed parades' legislation. 

It is being reported that the Order has snubbed a request from First Minister Peter Robinson to reconsider its stance on parades. The first minister it is reported wrote to Grand Lodge asking them to back the new proposals which resulted from the Hillsborough talks.

The Order rejected the plea with a spokesman saying members felt they had been taken for granted during the political negotiations at Hillsborough.

As previously highlighted on this blog the new proposed legislation on parades is an attack upon our civil and religious liberties. I trust that the Orange Order's objection is principled and not political maneuvering. 

The well being of the gospel in this province is at stake!