Northern Ireland religious leaders meet Peter Robinson to discuss peace process impasse
The leaders of Northern Ireland's four main churches met with DUP leader and First Minister Peter Robinson on Tu...
Donal Thornton
The leaders of Northern Ireland's four main churches met with DUP leader and First Minister Peter Robinson on Tuesday in an effort to stabilize Northern Ireland's political future.
Robinson and Sinn Féin's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness publicly quarreled over police and justice devolution at a press conference with Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Brian Cowen on Monday.
Catholic Cardinal Sean Brady, Bishop Michael Jackson of the Church of Ireland, Presbyterian moderator Stafford Carson and Methodist President Rev Donald Kerr met with Robinson, at his request, yesterday.
The church leaders issued a statement speaking about the "continued commitment of all in leadership to demonstrate an ability to overcome differences through working together for a better and more stable future."
The Northern Ireland executive has been unable to reach a compromise regarding the devolution of the police and justice system in Northern Ireland.
The public disagreement between the assembly leaders has led to much criticism from the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) , whose deputy leader Danny Kennedy said that the Executive was performing worse than the one previously led by the UUP and Sinn Féin.
The UUP leader also said the leadership was "dysfunctional," and lacked the ability to perform convincingly.
The SDLP's Alex Attwood said that the DUP's squabble was intentionally reinforcing their electoral position.
The church leaders also discussed the issue of growing levels of violent crime in the North with Robinson.
Related: Northern Ireland