Back in the 1550s during the reign of (Catholic) Mary Tudor (Bloody Mary), Bishop Hugh Latimer was burned at the stake in Oxford ….as a heretic.

There appears to be many Protestants and unionists in Norn Iron who are almost as unhappy with Presbyterian Minister Reverend David Latimer from Derry. The heresy is that he spoke at the Sinn Féin Annual Conference in Belfast. I think we make too much of “mavericks”…..clergy or indeed politicians.
Its hard to think that Rev Latimer speaks for a significant body of Presbyterians when he pays tribute to his friend Martin McGuinness. It is equally implausible that there are “Catholic unionists”.
There will always be one or two exceptions that prove the rule.

I suppose an interesting comparison is that of the young Limavady Presbyterian Minister who (about twenty five years ago) called at the Limavady Catholic Church to wish his fellow Christians……a Happy Christmas.
He was much vilified……by other Christians.
Of course the Catholic Church in Limavady is hardly a terrorist group (though 25 years ago there were plenty of “Christians” around who peddled that thought every July).

But the odd thing is that Rev David Armstrong was so criticised by his brethren in Limavady that he had to leave for England. I believe he was even helped financially by the Catholic Church.
Now the weird thing is that those fundamental types who so criticised him might actually be the type of fundamentalists who vote DUP in the Limavady area and beyond.

Now Im sure that quite a lot of moderate unionists would be disgusted at the treatment Rev Armstrong received. They wouldnt vilify anyone for making an obviously decent gesture……but even more curiously in 2011, DUP fundamental Christian types are hardly in a position to criticise a Presbyterian Minister going to a Sinn Féin Conference. After all the DUP  work happily alongside Sinn Féin in Stormont. Where Mr McGuinness runs Norn Iron jointly with Peter Robinson.
And yet the demonisation of Rev Latimer is led by unionists who would in the normal course of events regard themselves as “moderate”.
But basically they doth protest too much. Its little more than chagrin that they dont like the DUP-SF dominance of things …..and to a large extent Rev Latimers decision to attend and address the SF Conference underscores “moderate” unionist angst.

So 20 odd years ago a Presbyterian Minister who wishes his fellow Christians a happy Christmas is hounded out of Norn Iron but in 2011 it will be interesting to see how a Minister going to a SF Conference is dealt with by his own community.

To be frank, Im not convinced that a Presbyterian Minister or Catholic Priest should attend a Political Conference. I dont think religion and politics should mix. I dont doubt Rev Latimers sincerity but he certainly handed a major publicity coup to Sinn Féin.

And again this underscores the whole arrival of Sinn Féin into the mainstream. If anyone could doubt their success the whole Conference at the Waterfront Concert Hall…the very icon of the “New” post-conflict Belfast ……was a reminder of their sheer dominance. And indeed the Sinn Féin delegates as well as the trade and charity exhibitors were welcomed by the Sinn Féin “Lord” Mayor of Belfast (Niall O’Donnghiale who is just 25 years old). And the platform they spelt out…..including intensive Gaelic language training, that 80% of new candidates are under 35……all points to a vision that is being pushed…probably successfully. Rev Latimer allowed himself to be part of that.

Its over 30 years since I lived in Belfast and nearly eight years since I worked there. I dont know if the place where the Waterfront Hall is…..actually has a street name. For the likes of me….a stranger in my own city……thats still Oxford Street. The bus station to catch the bus to ……….Bangor.
And thats where Rev Latimer proves to be little more than a diversion.
And his unionist critics seem to have missed the bigger picture.
Sinn Féin Waterfront Hall, Oxford Street 9-10 September 2011 is a sign of (our) times.
Oxford Street Bus Station 21st July 1972…………Bloody Friday when the IRA had a concentrated day of bombing Belfast and four people were blown to pieces at the bus station.

These two images together are ….to me…..a bigger issue than Rev Latimer.