The Progressive Unionist Party views with concern the endeavours of certain elements within the anti agreement camp to baptise the "NO Campaign" with the name and imprimatur of God. We refer to claims in newspaper advertisements and to inferences in some public statements, that it is a sin to vote "yes" because the Good Friday Agreement is not only non-Christian, but also positively anti-Christian.

By invoking the name of God and the canon of Holy Scripture in support of their argument, elements within the wider anti-agreement lobby are deliberately playing on the emotions and religious sentiments of the Christian community. The inference is clear, no genuine Christian can vote YES without transgressing Scripture and incurring the wrath of God. Those who use this form of scriptural intimidation are not engaged in promoting the ministery of the gospel, but rather are engaged in promoting a "ministry of fear".

 

Note: This is a personal comment "As an evangelical Christian I would go further and suggest that attempts to sanctify either the Yes or the No campaign by invoking the name of God verges on the blasphemous and must be repudiated by all right thinking Christians"

The Progressive Unionist party acknowledges the right of all citizens of Northern Ireland to campaign against the Agreement in accordance with the dictates of their own conscience. We acknowledge that many people who hold strong Christian views will oppose the Agreement for a variety of reasons. That is their right and their privilege and we respect that. At the same time, we know from our interaction with Christian members of the contituencies in which we work, including many who hold strong evangelical views, that there is widespread support for the Agreement amongst Christians throughout the Province. Such people ought to be afforded the same respect for the decision that they have come to, as is due to those who have come to a different decision.

To dechristianise supporters of the Agreement by branding their actions as sinful and anti-Christian is reprehensible to say the least and is, in our opinion, contrary to the plain teaching of the Christian faith. We would call upon the leaders of the Anti - Agreement Lobby to openly and unequevically repudiate this form of spiritual blackmail and intimidation that is being carried out in furtherence of the "NO Campaign".

The Good Fiday Agreement is neither a Christian document nor an anti-Christian document. It is a political agreement reached by the representatives of eight different political parties committing them to "partnership, equality and mutual repect as the basis of relationships within Northern Ireland, between North and South and between these islands". It was negotiated by both Christians and non-Christians and consequently it reflects the reality of the political, cultural and confessional pluralism that is a fact of life in Northern Ireland. We believe that both Christians and non-Christians can and should, buy into this Agreement with a view to making it work in the interests of all our people.