Catholics in the North are divided on united Ireland

Survey says one in five Catholics would prefer to stay in the United Kingdom

There appears to be a growing interest in the North to hold a referendum on leaving the United Kingdom, but according to a recent survey, one in five Catholics would prefer to stay in the union.

A LucidTalk survey of opinions on a border poll found that a majority (56.2%) expressed the desire to hold a referendum similar to Scotland, but an even larger proportion (59.8%) stated a preference for Northern Ireland to remain within the union. The pro-union majority included one in five Catholics (20.7%).

Under the Good Friday Agreement, British Secretary of State Theresa Villiers can call a border poll if she thinks there is a clear majority who would vote for a united Ireland.

Fr Tim Bartlett, Director of Public & Social Affairs for the Diocese of Down & Connor, said that it is unclear how such a majority would be made evident, “but it is interesting to note that there is already a clear majority of Catholic children in the school-going population possibly by a differential of 10-15%.

“This would suggest a Catholic voting majority in the foreseeable future,” he said. “How that would translate in a border poll is difficult to predict and would be a matter entirely for the conscience of each individual Catholic. The Church’s primary concern in respect of a border poll will always be building a peaceful, reconciled society and a growing sustainable economy.”

Divisions

Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness has said it would be possible to hold a vote on Northern Ireland joining the Republic, without “opening up divisions”.

The DUP’s Peter Robinson believes that the majority of both Protestants and Catholics feel they are better off in the United Kingdom, and has compared Republicans asking for a border poll to “turkeys voting for Christmas”.

Fr Joseph McVeigh, based in Enniskillen parish, said he would welcome a border poll. “Let’s see what the real story is. Let’s have the debate and see what happens,” he said.

Fr McVeigh said most Catholics he knows want independence from Britain, and that the accuracy of the survey results depended on what kind of representative group was polled.

“There would be a certain number of Catholics who claim to be British or pro-union but the vast majority of Catholics and a small number of Protestants would be pro-independence, but there is no way of knowing except by having a referendum,” he said.

Pro-union priests contacted by The Irish Catholic were reluctant to go on the record on this issue.