The Church of Ireland Primate, Archbishop Robin Eames, has said he is gravely concerned about the peace process in the North.
He was very concerned that the removal of alienation on the part of one section of the community there was being done "at the terrible expense of alienating another".
Speaking to reporters during yesterday's Church of Ireland General Synod in Dublin, he referred to Dr John Reid's description of Northern Ireland as "a cold place for Protestants".
Many Protestants believed this to be true, including clergy with whom he had discussed it, he said. That was the perception, and in Northern Ireland perception quickly became reality. "Genuine grievances in both communities must be addressed fairly and be seen to be treated equally," he said.
Referring to Drumcree, Archbishop Eames said he had met Portadown Orange leaders "at least a dozen times" since last year's synod.
Not a day went by but something related to the impasse crossed his desk. "We have not sat on our hands, we have not just done nothing," he said.
His own approach to resolving the problem was "a path of Calvary I have chosen to follow" which he was attempting in the context of "the messiness and contradictions of Northern Ireland". His consolation was that a contribution to resolving the issue would also be a real contribution to the peace process.
He did not believe the Parades Commission in the North or those on the British government side appreciated the efforts being made, including those by the Portadown Orangemen, to resolve the problem.
His primary concern was that people recognised the integrity with which the Church of Ireland was approaching the Drumcree issue and that it was in the process towards its resolution for the long haul.
It emerged later that Archbishop Eames and the rector of Drumcree, the Rev John Pickering, had met the Parades Commission in relation to the impasse.
In his presidential address to the General Synod earlier, Archbishop Eames spoke of "a new and dangerous disenchantment with the political process just as there is a questioning of many aspects of institutional life" in both jurisdictions on the island.
There was "cynical misuse of power, position, trust and authority by some for their own betterment, as recent tribunals in the Republic have indicated," he said.
