A group of pro-Palestinian activists staged a protest in St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Cathedral in Armagh on Sunday to highlight “Israeli genocide, ethnic cleansing and apartheid”.
Organised by the newly-formed Christians4Palestine organisation, around 30 people walked through the aisles of the church amid a service holding placards related to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The placards on display depicted a number of different slogans, such as: ‘Jesus was a Palestinian’, ‘Don’t make Jesus complicit in genocide’, and ‘Thou shalt not kill, except for Palestinians’.
A spokesperson for the group, which reportedly consists of members of the Protestant and Catholic communities, said this was their first action, which demands that Christian churches, “unequivocally condemn Israeli genocide, ethnic cleansing and apartheid against the Palestinian people”.
Spokesperson Deirdre Murphy said that the group believe the Christian Church in Ireland has betrayed Christian values with its silence on the ongoing situation.
She said: “When Russia invaded Ukraine, the Protestant and Catholic Archbishops of Armagh, the birthplace and heart of Irish Christianity, came out quickly, clearly and powerfully to condemn the ‘abuse of power’ by Russia and asked us to support the Ukrainian people in every way we can.
“For 14 months we have marched and rallied, protesting the daily crimes against humanity suffered by the people of Gaza at the hands of Israel and waited in vain for the Christian Church here to respond with equal condemnation of Israel. Finally, we have lost patience.
“All we are asking is for the Church to uphold basic Christian values, to stand with the oppressed, and to counter these horrific crimes against humanity with all the power at its disposal. When we ask the question, ‘What would Jesus have done?’ We know he would not be silent in the face of genocide.
“We made sure our protest was as dignified as possible and did not threaten anyone and were delighted and encouraged that many in the congregation were supportive, as shown by their very generous donations to Palestine Aid Ireland afterwards. We call on Christians throughout the island of Ireland to support our campaign for peace, justice and freedom for the Palestinian people.”
After the protest, the priest leading the service, Father Barry Matthews, asked that the church not be used for political reasons.
He said: “We don’t use Mass as a moment for a quick snapshot or a screenshot. We come together to pray. To pray for those who are struggling, to pray for those who are suffering. And we come face to face with the Lord not to make a point but rather to trust in His plan.
“So let’s trust, during these weeks of Advent, that God has a plan and that God is present in the Eucharist wherever it is celebrated. Whether it is celebrated here or in those areas of war and violence.
“Let us not use the church as a place for political statement.”
