The Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Revd John McDowell, addresses the Synod
The Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Revd John McDowell, addresses the Synod
THE Synod’s attempts to debate mission and ministry were interrupted by an anti-transgender protest on behalf of an imprisoned former Church of Ireland schoolteacher (News 8 April 2023, 22 May 2023).
Two protesters entered the Synod chamber with a microphone and disrupted proceedings. The protesters, who also unfurled a banner, were the mother and brother of Enoch Burke, a former teacher at a church school who has been locked in an prolonged legal battle with each the varsity and the Irish courts over his refusal to make use of a transgender pupil’s recent name and pronouns.
As Mr Burke continues to defy a court order compelling him to not enter the varsity grounds, he has repeatedly been imprisoned for contempt of court. His members of the family shouted questions on the Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Revd John McDowell, who refused to reply and immediately suspended the sitting of the Synod.
After just a few minutes, the protesters left the hotel where the Synod was meeting. Later, the members took their seats to resume the session. The police were called, but no arrests were made.
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