Brief Response #2

Northern Ireland has for years been a land of conflict between its two major groups the Catholics/Republicans and Protestants/Unionists. The principal factor causing this strain between the two factions is not racism, but another ‘ism’ that is closely related called sectarianism. As described by Liechty and Clegg, “[s]ectarianism…is a system of attitudes, actions, beliefs, and structures at personal, communal, and institutional levels which always involves religion, and typically involves a negative mixing of religion and politics” (102-103). Two examples of sectarianism seen in Northern Ireland are the parades and the religious documents, specifically the Orange Order Parade and the document “One Bread, One Body”. These both display explicit examples of sectarianism even if it was not intended. The major consequence of this ‘ism’ is most people lack to acknowledge its influence around them.

Sectarian consequences are not only verbal and physical confrontations between one group against another group of people, but can included the effects of overlooking another. “One Bread, One Body” is Catholic document about the Eucharist, and appears to have no intentions to be written in a sectarian view. The teaching document is “an example of overlooking…it overlooks the faith commitment and concerns of Protestant partners in Catholic-Protestant interchurch marriages. The message to them is that the Roman Catholic Church does not accept you as who you say you are” (Liechty and Clegg 136). Several excerpts from “One Bread, One Body” exhibit that mixed marriages are not in full communion with each other because of the spouse's different faith. An example from the document is presented when stated that “[w]hen a Christian not in fu...

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...r the fact that the parade roots trace back to a Protestant/loyalist historical event. Most years do go without incidence, but sectarianism can lay down a dangerous foundation for the future.

Sectarianism is the cause of conflict in Northern Ireland, but sectarianism at certain levels can be necessary in keeping peace. Sectarian thought is not good, but can help some conflicts from arising in the current time. Mixing religion and politics has been an issue with nations for most of history; the negative mixing generally leads to the division amongst the nation’s population. As shown in Northern Ireland, religion is a huge part of the culture and is a reason why sectarianism thrives there today. For Northern Ireland’s problems to end would mean an end of conflict over the mix of religion and politics, which is unlikely since religion is a part of the culture.