The Rector Writes

Dear Friends,

People who have analysed the 30-year conflict in the North talk about the “pyramid of sectarianism”, an imaginary but revealing way of understanding people’s attitudes. At the top of the pyramid were the small number who carried out the most brutal atrocities: murders, bombings, shootings and beatings. Just underneath were those who were openly bigoted, whose words encouraged directly the people of violence to attack the other community. Under them came the larger number who claimed not to support violence, but were actively hostile to the beliefs of those who were of a different tradition. The base layers consisted of the very much greater number of those who claimed to want peace, but who engaged in sectarian jokes, who disapproved of inter community relationships, who were content with the religious apartheid of parts of the North, and made no effort to understand the beliefs and attitudes of those who lived with them.

The crucial part of the pyramid model is that, just as in a real pyramid, each layer depends on the one below. Those in the base layers could say they didn’t support violence but the truth is that, by their attitudes and their apathy, they helped to maintain a culture where beliefs were hardened and violence was seen by those at the top as “more acceptable”, as a legitimate way of defending their community. The small number of fanatics at the top depended on the attitudes of the large numbers at the base.

We might well feel that things are very different here in the South, and so they largely are in matters of religion. But the authors of last year’s C of I report “The Hard Gospel” suggest a very different story when it comes to race. The growing multiculturalism of our society has been widely welcomed and our own parish is reaping the benefits of it. But we can’t be unaware of the increase in racist attacks and violence throughout our country. I’m sure none of us reading this article would condone such violence for a moment, but it’s worth asking ourselves: are we part of that pyramid of racism? A few – a very few – thoughtless comments that I’ve heard recently, suggest that maybe some of us by our prejudices or our silence have a place at the base on which the rest depends. A few jokes, a few idle remarks, all go to create the culture where racism is more acceptable. Each one of us who calls ourself a Christian is asked to examine our conscience in the light of Jesus’ teaching: the Good Samaritan story is just one example. Let’s make sure we have no place in that pyramid of prejudice.

Yours in his service

Andrew

Parishes of Castleknock and Mulhuddart with Clonsilla
Parish Office
Main Street
Castleknock
Dublin 15
Tel: 01-820 0040
Fax: 01-820 0040
E-mail: castleknock@dublin.anglican.org