Meeting between Catholic Church Leaders and Leaders of the Loyal Orders
Senior representatives of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland and the Royal Black Institution met today Wednesday 19 February with Roman Catholic clergy in Belfast.
Among the attendees at the preliminary meeting, held at the Orange Institution’s temporary headquarters, were the Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, Edward Stevenson; Sovereign Grand Master of the Royal Black Institution, Millar Farr, and the Bishop of Down and Connor, Bishop Noel Treanor.
As well as discussing the issue of religious freedom in secular society, the clergy were given a presentation of the Orange Institution’s educational outreach programme and an overview of the REACH Project, which will see the development of two new interpretative centres in Belfast and Loughgall.
All parties agreed the meeting was helpful, allowing a useful exchange of views and committed themselves to further engagement.
Other Loyal Order representatives included the Rev Alistair Smyth, Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland; Drew Nelson, Grand Secretary; Jack Greenald, Grand Treasurer; Raymond Spiers, Assistant Grand Master; George Chittick, Grand Master of the County Grand Orange Lodge of Belfast and Billy Scott, Imperial Grand Registrar of the Royal Black Institution
Bishop Treanor was accompanied by Father Timothy Bartlett, Secretary to the northern Bishops and Father Michael Sheehan, Administrator of Saint Patrick’s Parish, Donegall Street, Belfast.
For media contact: Catholic Communications Office Maynooth: Martin Long 00353 (0) 86 172 7678 and Brenda Drumm 00353 (0) 87 310 4444
