I contributed to a programme on German public broadcaster NDR titled, ‘Brexit: Europe Worries about Northern Ireland.’ The programme was produced by the ‘Evangelische Kirche im NDR’, an office of the Protestant churches in Northern Germany. My contribution focused on the role of the churches both in fostering division and promoting peacemaking during the Troubles; as well as how the churches might contribute constructively in the current fragile political climate.
An English translation of the interview includes thoughts based my recently completed biography of Fr Gerry Reynolds (due to be published in May) and reflections on the recently-completed 4 Corners Festival.
I have reproduced two translated sections of the interview below. You can read it in full (or listen to the report in German) here.
Proper reconciliation did not happen
In the diaries of Gerry Reynolds Gladys Ganiel read that for decades he even prayed for the hardliners of the other side. Jesus’ command to love one’s enemy – decisive for his everyday life. But after the Belfast peace agreement of 1998, the churches and other civil society groups retreated. A missed opportunity, says Gladys Ganiel. Because it never came to real reconciliation. “One problem was that we skipped a step, so to speak: the churches called for reconciliation, without there being any time for recognition, grief and lamentation, such as those who were injured during the conflict or lost family members. Their pain, their anger and bitterness has not been recognised,” said the sociologist.
Churches have to be self-critical
Now it needs a new generation that consciously seeks contact with people from other Christian traditions , says Gladys Ganiel. A good example is the “4 Corners Festival”. It was initiated several years ago by a Catholic priest and a Protestant pastor in Belfast. The festival wants to get people out of their isolation and challenge them theologically. The slogan of the last festival at the beginning of this year was “Scandalous forgiveness”, in German “shocking forgiveness”. Gladys Ganiel explains: “The festival has tried to start a public dialogue and to ask the question: Are we ready to forgive and if so, what do we need for that to happen?”
She emphasizes that in order to be able to contribute to peace and reconciliation even in times of Brexit and “backstop”, the churches would have to acknowledge the part they had previously played in the division, the emergence of hatred and violence. They would have to be capable of self-criticism, otherwise the rest of society would not be able to take them seriously anymore.