Abstract
Protestantism is not innately anti-Catholic, and only specific social circumstances cause some Protestants in Northern Ireland to be so. Nor are all Protestants in Northern Ireland anti-Catholic; some are committed to developing positive relationships with Catholics and to healing communal divisions. There are several high-profile attempts to find a ‘better way’ for dealing with ancient theological conflicts and disputes, which display that some Protestants have a heart open to Catholics. These are in addition to the high-profile cross-community activities that take place in a secular context. Church-based initiatives include reconciliation and ecumenical groups, such as Faith and Friendship, the Lamb of God community, Corrymeela, Restoration Ministries, the Cornerstone Community, and Rostrevor Christian Renewal Centre; groups which confront conservative evangelicals with their responsibilities for peace in Northern Ireland, like the Evangelical Contribution on Northern Ireland (ECONI); and various initiatives which have involved Catholics and Protestants coming together to address issues of faith, theology, politics and sectarianism, such as the Inter-Church Group on Faith and Politics, the Irish Inter-Church Meeting on Sectarianism, and the Irish School of Ecumenics.
Published Version
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