THE Church of Ireland and the Orange Order both still believe that the Roman Catholic Church is not Just another religious institution proclaiming its interpretation of the Christian faith. Both hold to the view, officially stated in their literature, that the Roman Catholic Church is simply wrong in a number of respects and best avoided.

According to the so called Twelve Marks of an Orangeman - 12 ideals or goals to which the good Orangeman should strive - it would seem extremely difficult, if not impossible, for anyone other than a Protestant to be a member of the order.

The second of the Twelve Marks, states that an Orangeman is "a Protestant... He upholds the great Protestant principle of freedom of conscience for all people." The Twelve Marks go on the define the Orangeman as a loyal subject of the queen, a good citizen and neighbour, a loving parent and vigilant.

More explicit and stridently anti Catholic articles of faith for the Orange man are stated in the Qualifications of an Orangeman.

According to these, an Orangemen should "strenuously oppose the fatal errors and doctrines of the Church of Rome, and scrupulously avoid countenancing (by his presence or otherwise) any act of ceremony of Popish worship; he should, by all lawful means, resist the ascendancy of that Church, its encroachments, and the extension of its power, ever abstaining from all uncharitable words, actions or sentiments, towards his Roman Catholic brethren...

As for the Church of Ireland, its views are contained in several of the 39 Articles of Religion which form part of the church's Book of Common Prayer.

Article 19, defines what the church is ("a congregation of faithful men") and goes on to pass judgment on other churches: "As the Church of Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch, have erred; so also the Church of Rome hath erred, not only in their living and manner of their Ceremonies, but also in matters of Faith."

Other aspects of Roman Catholic practice are dismissed as repugnant to God. Article 22, "Of Purgatory", states: "The Romish Doctrine concerning Purgatory, Pardons, Worshipping and Adoration as well as Images as of Reliques, and also invocation of saints, is a fond thing, vainly invented, and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture, but rather repugnant to the "Word of God."

Article 24 declares that "it is a thing plainly repugnant to the "Word of God" to have church services "in a tongue not understood of the people".

Finally, the Articles of Religion of the Church of Ireland state, in Article 37, that "the Bishop of Rome hath no jurisdiction in this Realm of England."