the orange order of ireland has beeen called bigoted for not allowing catholics but its a protestant org so why would a catholic want to join its not that they hete catholics just dont agree with the papel stance like if your child is born from a mixed marrige it must be brought up in the catholic faith no matter what .The intensity of anti-Orange material in much of the media in the aftermath of the Whiterock violence was ferocious. Much of it was from predictable quarters, but it was still hard to take, as most of it as far as the Orange Institution was concerned, was ill-informed and inaccurate.
In many instances it amounted to downright lies, and these were not always corrected.
The Talkback programme on BBC Radio Ulster was bombarded with contributions from enemies of the Orange Order, and also from so-called 'moderate' critics.
When criticism was justified, it had to be acknowledged, and one has to accept the very good case presented by the Rev. Alan McCann, the highly respected Lurgan-born minister.
Mr. McCann pulled no punches, reminding listeners of what the Orange Order is all about, and the need for Orangemen and all connected with the Order to witness in the right way for Protestantism.
No-one could quarrel with his analysis. But there were others whose contempt and hatred for the Orange Order came through loud and clear.
An even stronger case could have been made. It is a fact that the Orange Order has no laws barring anyone of any race or colour from its membership - the one necessity is that an applicant must be a Protestant.
Anyone with any knowledge of the Orange Order would know that there are over a dozen Orange Lodges in Togo and Ghana, and there are Lodges in Canada comprised of First Nations people - members of the Red Indian community.
But then, of course, republicans with an anti-Orange agenda would not be interested in the facts - they prefer lying propaganda.