Fiaich withdrawal plea attacked

ARCHBISHOP Tomas 0 Fiaich's statement that the British should withdraw from Northern Ireland drew predictable and fierce reaction from Unionist and Republican polititians.
The Archbishop of Armagh said in a lengthy interview with The Irish Press that he believed in a declaration of intent by the British Government to withdraw from Northern Ireland.
He added: "I know it's a coloured phrase, but I think it's the only thing which will get things moving." He said he didn't think there would be civil war, and that he would trust Protestants in the event of a withdrawal.
"I regret that it didn't happen after the fall of Stormont . . . I don't see any long-term solution save in an all-Ireland context."
The Official Unionists accused the Archbishop of being in collaboration with the Dublin Government, and John Taylor, a prominent Unionist politician, said he would draw the attention of the Pope to the "active political involvement" of the Archbishop.
The Rev Ian Paisley, the Democratic Unionist leader, called Archbishop 0 Fiaich, "the IRA Bishop from Crossmaglen."
Even the mild Unionist Party of Northern Ireland and the Alliance Party were critical of the Archbishop's remarks.
Support for the Archbishop came from Gerry Fitt, MP for North Belfast, who said that the Archbishop was expressing a personal opinion, "which he is entitled to hold and express. That is what democracy is all about.
"The Unionists just don't like anyone expressing a view which they don't happen to agree with."
Mr Fitt was particularly critical of John Biggs-Davison, MP, the Conservative backbench spokesman on Northern Ireland.
Mr Biggs-Davison, who is a, Catholic, said the Archbishop's statement was regrettable and that elections showed that many Catholics in -the North of Ireland supported union with Britain.
Mr Fitt said Mr B lagsDavison was in no position to dictate to Archbishop 0 Fiaich "He thinks he knows more about the subject than anyone
else. He thinks he knows more than the Pope," said Mr Fitt.
Bishop Daly of Derry said that Archbishop 0 Fiaich was expressing a widely held view and the feelings of many both north and south of the Border.
"The statement was very reasonable," he said, "in view of the lack of action from the British Government in the last 18 months. The Archbishop is entitled to his opinion as a citizen."
Dr George Simms, the Church Of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh, commenting on Archbishop 0 Fiaich's statement, said the Church of Ireland would be studying the full text of the interview and looking at its implications.
Dr 0 Fiaich's sentiments were not unexpected. He is well known as a Gaelic scholar and
supporter of Irish culture. Irish nationalism is historically very closely linked with the Irish language and culture movement.
In the interview with Tim Pat Coogan, Editor of The Irish Press, Archbishop 0 Fiaich said the British had now won the propaganda war in Northern Ireland and put across the view that if the Army were to withdraw the people would slaughter each other. He described himself as conservative by training and liberal by instinct, and said he would be opposed to imposing Catholic morality on society by enshrining it in legislation.
"Proposed changes regarding civil divorce or contraception should he argued for or against, as to whether or not they are good or bad for society," he said.