Bigots and Bullies
The Orange Order in Northern Ireland is making itself look even more ridiculous than usual - with an attack on two local politicians who attended a Catholic police officer - murdered in the line of duty.
The 'rules' of the Orange Order apparently ban members from taking part in Catholic services - which presumably extends to marriages and other events.
Two members of the Northern Ireland Assembly - two Ulster Unionist members are to face disciplinary proceedings by the Orange Order - because of they attended the funeral of murdered policeman Ronan Kerr.
Tom Elliott (the Ulster Unionist Party leader) and Danny Kennedy - attended the funeral of Constable Kerr - along with other political and community leaders from across Ireland.
For daring to showing their respect to the murdered man, his family and the wider community he served - Mr Elliott and Mr Kennedy are now under attack - from bigots and bullies in local branch of the Orange Order in Belfast.
What a sorry tale.
But the good news is that Mr Elliott and Mr Kennedy are standing firm and defying their critics - both have said they have no regrets about attending Constable Kerr's funeral - and that they did the right thing by attending and paying their respects.
So maybe there's hope after all - because the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland have turned their backs - on this kind of intolerance and religious hatred.
All we need now is for the Orange Order to use this opportunity to get rid of ridiculous rules - which fuel sectarian attitudes and encourage discrimination.
The 'rules' of the Orange Order apparently ban members from taking part in Catholic services - which presumably extends to marriages and other events.
Two members of the Northern Ireland Assembly - two Ulster Unionist members are to face disciplinary proceedings by the Orange Order - because of they attended the funeral of murdered policeman Ronan Kerr.
Tom Elliott (the Ulster Unionist Party leader) and Danny Kennedy - attended the funeral of Constable Kerr - along with other political and community leaders from across Ireland.
For daring to showing their respect to the murdered man, his family and the wider community he served - Mr Elliott and Mr Kennedy are now under attack - from bigots and bullies in local branch of the Orange Order in Belfast.
What a sorry tale.
But the good news is that Mr Elliott and Mr Kennedy are standing firm and defying their critics - both have said they have no regrets about attending Constable Kerr's funeral - and that they did the right thing by attending and paying their respects.
So maybe there's hope after all - because the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland have turned their backs - on this kind of intolerance and religious hatred.
All we need now is for the Orange Order to use this opportunity to get rid of ridiculous rules - which fuel sectarian attitudes and encourage discrimination.
