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Paisley: I prayed with McGuinness
Saturday, 23 January 2010
Former DUP leader Ian Paisley has revealed that he prayed alongside Martin McGuinness when the Deputy First Minister’s mother was dying.
The private religious moment between the former First Minister and Mr McGuinness emerged during an interview given by Mr Paisley at Queen’s University, ironically as negotiations between the DUP and Sinn Fein over devolution of policing and justice were stalling once again.
The man who once was removed from the European Parliament for denouncing Pope John Paul II as “the Antichrist” said he offered prayers for members of Mr McGuinness’ family, including his mother, who was ill at the time.
The founding member of the Free Presbyterian Church said he “did the praying” while ex-IRA man and current Deputy First Minister Mr McGuinness “did the listening”.
Mr Paisley said: “There were some individual matters that he had, home matters of people being ill and his mother being ill, and we prayed together.”
“I did the praying and he did the listening, but he wanted me to do it. I said I can do nothing but the God that we believe in can do something.
“And I would suggest we pray. He said ‘yes, do pray’.
“I offered prayer for him and I think that was the right thing to do, I don’t care what people say.
“I hope that I have the same heart as Christ had, a love for others who needed help in times of need.”
Mr Paisley also revealed that he had first spoken to the Sinn Fein minister about their working relationship after a deal was struck over power-sharing.
“I said ‘we have never spoken before but let me do the speaking first’, he said ‘certainly’,” Mr Paisley said.
Just as the current DUP and Sinn Fein talks over policing and justice grind to a halt, Mr Paisley told of his efforts to make power-sharing with Sinn Fein work. “I simply said (to Mr McGuinness) ‘you know what has happened today, I want to make a success of this, I believe you want to make a success of this’.”
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Love thy neighbour as thy self! Pity Robinson and company could not show Christian virtues! Ulster how God weeps for you!
Posted by Maggie Long | 25.01.10, 23:44 GMT
Sean from Co Down Ireland - By signing off your messages in the way that you do, are you not concentrating on what makes us different?
Posted by Richard | 25.01.10, 15:13 GMT
Why not - aren't they both Christians! That is what Christians do - pray with one another - pray for each others' needs. This is the shame of Northern Ireland - that we make such a deal when persons from various churches and persons from different political parties suddenly catch themselves on - reach out to shake hands or to pray - this makes headlines!
Posted by Elise Gorman | 25.01.10, 11:57 GMT
God bless them both. As a Northerner brought up in New Zealand I have watched these men without perhaps less bias than most and I can say that I believe they are both truly good men. I pray for all the good people of Northern Ireland that the great things they achieved together in the spirit of partnership will not now be undone by lesser people.
Posted by Fe | 24.01.10, 20:47 GMT
A very positive headline showing reconciliation. Thanks!
Posted by Nee-naw | 24.01.10, 18:07 GMT
I feel what MR Paisley did was the right thing to do. We are told to love one another even our enemies.Martha
Posted by Martha Strain | 24.01.10, 17:15 GMT
In the confusion of the troubles people tended to forget that they believe in the same God. They are both Christians. Perhaps they, more than most, now know how precious life is. Let us hope that the demons of the past are truly laid to rest.
Posted by Gerry | 23.01.10, 19:52 GMT
I would have very little confidence in people who talk to non existent entities, I find it frightening that these people have been chosen as leaders. When will this nonsense end?
Posted by jim | 23.01.10, 18:45 GMT
if big Ian and Matin can pray together it hallmarks the beginning of the end of sectarin mutual destruction. Everyone on the island of Ireland should pray together and the religious divide will disappear,
Posted by Seamus OhEarcain | 23.01.10, 18:15 GMT
If D.I.P. prayed in private with Marty, he should have kept it private.
Posted by Billy | 23.01.10, 17:30 GMT
Why did Paisley disclose this "private religious moment"? Was ut for some self gratification?
The private religion of any individual should be just that - private! One would have thought that a minister of religion would respect that privacy.
This revelation would certainly put me off attending any service at Paisley's church. I don't want to see MY "private religious moments" splashed all over the news media!
Posted by Centaur | 23.01.10, 17:10 GMT
very moving
Posted by expat | 23.01.10, 14:37 GMT
It's a tad late Ian to change your image at this stage ; the world's population already knows what you are !
Posted by Jack | 23.01.10, 12:40 GMT
Yes, I would commend Rev Paisley, as I would commend many others, in praying for the McGuinness family in their time of need, this is the normal instinct of any child of God.
However it is not the sort of thing that believers in the Lord Jesus Christ would publicise, normally these are very private matters and should be kept so, in order that no flesh would glory.
Posted by Rev Mervyn Cotton | 23.01.10, 10:49 GMT
my respect for ian paisley just increased exponentially. i know people going to moan about why is this newsworthy, but it represents a massive change not only in ian paisley but perhaps the attitude of some hardliners on both sides, the future looks bright, (but not necessarily orange)
Posted by pleased | 23.01.10, 10:08 GMT
The DUP need big Ian back as they are now like a ship without a rudder. We should all be able to work, pray and live together as we are all Irish. We should concentrate on what we have in comman rather than what makes us differant.
Posted by sean from co down Ireland | 23.01.10, 09:54 GMT