Human Rights Organization for Justice, Unity, Peace, and Solidarity
Sean Mc Manus with Mario Biaggi and Robert Blancato in 1987.
MacBride Principles
Washington, D.C., March 1, 1996 -- The House and Senate Conference (of the United States Congress) today agreed to attach the MacBride Principles to the International Fund for Ireland (IFI). This means that all recipients of U.S. money through the IFI must comply with the Principles -- a fair employment, non-discrimination code of conduct. The "reconciled" legislation now goes back to the House and Senate for a vote where it will routinely pass.
The legislation is part of the American Overseas Interest Act. The MacBride legislation was part of the House Bill which was passed in May 1995 but it was not contained in the Senate version. House and Senate bills have to be "reconciled" in Conference, which consists of a small number of House and Senate leaders.
The MacBride Principles were initiated and launched in November 1984 by the Capitol Hill-based Irish National Caucus. Its President, Fr. Sean McManus said, "I always knew that sooner or later we would get the U.S. Congress to pass the MacBride Principles. When our best ally, Congressman Ben Gilman (R-NY) became Chairman of the House International Relations Committee, I knew we would certainly prevail. But it could never have happened without Congressman Gilman. His record on Ireland is extraordinary and magnificent."
The Irish National Caucus put on a strong lobbying effort led by Fr. Sean McManus, Rita Mullan, and William J. Smith, Jr. "We just stood outside the Conference room and lobbied the Members as they came in and out," said Fr. McManus. Bob Tobin lobbied on behalf of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Nuala Moore lobbied on behalf of the Irish-American Unity Conference
"All the Irish organizations deserve great credit. Last week we sent the Members of the Conference a letter signed by all the major Irish American organizations. It proved to be very effective." Fr. McManus said. "Senator Robert Dole (R-KS), Senator Al D'Amato (R-NY), Senator Hank Brown (R-CO), Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC), Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Congressman Henry Hyde (R-IL) also deserve a lot of credit because they threw their strong weight behind the MacBride Principles." Fr. McManus concluded.
**********************
Washington, D.C., March 11, 1998 -- In a major development, the House and Senate Conference of the U.S. Congress approved the MacBride Principles last night. The Principles, approved as part of the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998, mandate that all recipients of funds from the International Fund for Ireland in Northern Ireland must be in compliance with the MacBride Principles.
"This is a truly magnificent development in a long campaign for the MacBride
Principles," said Fr. Sean McManus, President of the Irish National Caucus, the Capitol Hill-based Irish lobby. "That it comes as a St. Patrick's day gift is particularly welcome."
The Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 will now go back to the full House and full Senate on Thursday or Friday for up-or-down vote. Members must vote yes or no for the entire Bill. They can not debate or oppose particular sections of the Bill. That means in effect that the MacBride Principles will be passed. The Bill will then go to the President for his signature.
Fr. McManus paid special tribute to Congressman Ben Gilman (R-NY), Chairman of the House International Relations Committee, for his splendid and consistent leadership on the MacBride Principles campaign. "In all of history Ireland has never had a truer Congressional friend than Ben Gilman," Fr. McManus stated.
Fr. McManus also praised Sen Al D'Amato (R-NY): "Sen D'Amato also played a key role in persuading Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, not to oppose the MacBride Principles being included in the Bill."
The legislation is part of the American Overseas Interest Act. The MacBride legislation was part of the House Bill which was passed in May 1995 but it was not contained in the Senate version. House and Senate bills have to be "reconciled" in Conference, which consists of a small number of House and Senate leaders.
The MacBride Principles were initiated and launched in November 1984 by the Capitol Hill-based Irish National Caucus. Its President, Fr. Sean McManus said, "I always knew that sooner or later we would get the U.S. Congress to pass the MacBride Principles. When our best ally, Congressman Ben Gilman (R-NY) became Chairman of the House International Relations Committee, I knew we would certainly prevail. But it could never have happened without Congressman Gilman. His record on Ireland is extraordinary and magnificent."
The Irish National Caucus put on a strong lobbying effort led by Fr. Sean McManus, Rita Mullan, and William J. Smith, Jr. "We just stood outside the Conference room and lobbied the Members as they came in and out," said Fr. McManus. Bob Tobin lobbied on behalf of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Nuala Moore lobbied on behalf of the Irish-American Unity Conference
"All the Irish organizations deserve great credit. Last week we sent the Members of the Conference a letter signed by all the major Irish American organizations. It proved to be very effective." Fr. McManus said. "Senator Robert Dole (R-KS), Senator Al D'Amato (R-NY), Senator Hank Brown (R-CO), Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC), Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Congressman Henry Hyde (R-IL) also deserve a lot of credit because they threw their strong weight behind the MacBride Principles." Fr. McManus concluded.
**********************
Washington, D.C., March 11, 1998 -- In a major development, the House and Senate Conference of the U.S. Congress approved the MacBride Principles last night. The Principles, approved as part of the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998, mandate that all recipients of funds from the International Fund for Ireland in Northern Ireland must be in compliance with the MacBride Principles.
"This is a truly magnificent development in a long campaign for the MacBride
Principles," said Fr. Sean McManus, President of the Irish National Caucus, the Capitol Hill-based Irish lobby. "That it comes as a St. Patrick's day gift is particularly welcome."
The Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 will now go back to the full House and full Senate on Thursday or Friday for up-or-down vote. Members must vote yes or no for the entire Bill. They can not debate or oppose particular sections of the Bill. That means in effect that the MacBride Principles will be passed. The Bill will then go to the President for his signature.
Fr. McManus paid special tribute to Congressman Ben Gilman (R-NY), Chairman of the House International Relations Committee, for his splendid and consistent leadership on the MacBride Principles campaign. "In all of history Ireland has never had a truer Congressional friend than Ben Gilman," Fr. McManus stated.
Fr. McManus also praised Sen Al D'Amato (R-NY): "Sen D'Amato also played a key role in persuading Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, not to oppose the MacBride Principles being included in the Bill."
POWER OF THE MACBRIDE PRINCIPLES
“Secret British Government papers released after an embargo of 30 years reveal again the power and effectiveness of our Mac Bride Principles campaign, as the BBC reports below.
The Irish National Caucus launched the Mac Bride Principles on November 5, 1984. Despite massive British Government opposition — on which, by their own admission, the British spent millions of dollars— the united Irish-American community flexed its muscle, showed its clout, and beat back the British campaign. The Mac Bride Principles have changed the nature of anti-Catholic discrimination in employment because of the leverage of American companies and because our campaign exposed the systematic Government policy of anti-Catholic discrimination.”—Fr. Sean Mc Manus.
The Irish National Caucus launched the Mac Bride Principles on November 5, 1984. Despite massive British Government opposition — on which, by their own admission, the British spent millions of dollars— the united Irish-American community flexed its muscle, showed its clout, and beat back the British campaign. The Mac Bride Principles have changed the nature of anti-Catholic discrimination in employment because of the leverage of American companies and because our campaign exposed the systematic Government policy of anti-Catholic discrimination.”—Fr. Sean Mc Manus.
IRISH CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING
“Several documents refer to the government’s difficulties combating the influential MacBride Principles, an anti-discrimination campaign in the USA that acted as guidelines for US companies doing business in Northern Ireland."
Mark Devenport. BBC-NI. Belfast .Friday, 25 August 2016
They cover events in the 1980s running up to 1989. The files come from the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI). They have been released under what is known as the 30/20 rule, which refers to the phased release of files that used to be kept secret for 30 years but will in future be released after 20 years. Throughout this period the government struggled with how to address deprivation in areas like west Belfast, where Catholic male unemployment was running at 47%. Dr. Phoenix came across one strongly worded document from April 1987 written by Sir Ken Bloomfield, the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service. Difficulties Sir Ken spoke of west Belfast’s "ghetto mentality" and alienation "from normal civilized behavior." He feared that if the government engaged in efforts to regenerate West Belfast, Unionists might respond "on the lines of "do you have to kill British soldiers... to benefit from a cornucopia of assistance?" Despite these concerns, the government signed off on a major development programme for deprived areas in Belfast in 1988. Several documents refer to the government’s difficulties combating the influential MacBride Principles, an anti-discrimination campaign in the USA that acted as guidelines for US companies doing business in Northern Ireland. Secretary of State Peter Brooke wrote to cabinet colleagues that the implementation of what he called tough and radical new fair employment laws would be crucial to the success of the government's Northern Ireland policies and to perceptions abroad, especially in the United States.
Mark Devenport. BBC-NI. Belfast .Friday, 25 August 2016
They cover events in the 1980s running up to 1989. The files come from the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI). They have been released under what is known as the 30/20 rule, which refers to the phased release of files that used to be kept secret for 30 years but will in future be released after 20 years. Throughout this period the government struggled with how to address deprivation in areas like west Belfast, where Catholic male unemployment was running at 47%. Dr. Phoenix came across one strongly worded document from April 1987 written by Sir Ken Bloomfield, the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service. Difficulties Sir Ken spoke of west Belfast’s "ghetto mentality" and alienation "from normal civilized behavior." He feared that if the government engaged in efforts to regenerate West Belfast, Unionists might respond "on the lines of "do you have to kill British soldiers... to benefit from a cornucopia of assistance?" Despite these concerns, the government signed off on a major development programme for deprived areas in Belfast in 1988. Several documents refer to the government’s difficulties combating the influential MacBride Principles, an anti-discrimination campaign in the USA that acted as guidelines for US companies doing business in Northern Ireland. Secretary of State Peter Brooke wrote to cabinet colleagues that the implementation of what he called tough and radical new fair employment laws would be crucial to the success of the government's Northern Ireland policies and to perceptions abroad, especially in the United States.
Fr. Sean Mc Manus and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY).
Congressional Hearing. April 28, 2017. CAPITOL HILL. Friday, April 28, 2017—For the second time this week, the House Financial Services Committee held a Hearing on the proposed Financial Choice Act. If passed, the Act would, in effect, eliminate current rules for shareholders’ advocacy for worthy causes, exclude 99% of the American public, and would sabotage the Mac Bride Principles— a corporate code of conduct for American companies doing business in Northern Ireland. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) is the Congresswoman for New York's 12th Congressional District, which includes most of the East Side of Manhattan, Roosevelt Island and extends across the East River into the Boroughs of Queens (including Astoria, Long Island City, and parts of Woodside) and Brooklyn (including Green Point).
The Congresswoman has been an avid supporter of the Mac Bride Principles from the moment the Principles were launched by the Irish National Caucus on November 5, 1984. Indeed, Congresswoman Maloney is very proud that as a member of the New York City Council (1982- 1992), she was a key supporter of the MacBride Bill that was introduced by Councilman Sal Albanese (D- Brooklyn) and passed by the New York City Council.
This Congressional Hearing on April 28 was boycotted by all but two of the 34 Republicans who serve on the Financial Services Committee, including Chairman Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), who has proposed the radical, extremist assault on shareholder advocacy. Currently, and for many years, one could submit a shareholder resolution provided one had for at least one year $2,000 worth of shares. However, if the extremist changes are passed into law, it would mean, for one example, to submit a resolution to Apple, one would need to own, for three years shares worth $7.5 Billion. Fr. Sean Mc Manus—President/Founder of the Capitol Hill-based Irish National Caucus—said: “When one considers that the Mac Bride Principles were twice passed by the Republican- controlled Congress (and signed into law by Democrat Bill Clinton in 1998), it is an extraordinary change in direction for Republicans. I cannot understand why they want to confirm the stereotype (which they claim is unfair) of Republicans only being interested in the super rich. Their assault on shareholder resolutions identifies them with 1% of Americans, disdaining the 99%. I cannot believe that good, decent Republican Members of Congress want to be seen in such a light. The late, great Congressman Ben Gilman (R-NY) must be turning in his grave. It was Ben—God rest his noble Jewish-American soul—who, as Chairman of the House International Relations Committee, helped the Irish National Caucus to successfully push the Mac Bride legislation through the Congress.” Fr. Mc Manus concluded: “I have been hoping that Congressman Peter King (R-NY), a long time outspoken supporter of the Mac Bride Principles— and of how the Principles have combatted Anti-Catholic discrimination in Northern Ireland— would take the lead in convincing the Republicans on the House Financial Services Committee not to sabotage the Mac Bride Principles. But he has ‘been missing in action’ and absent from the past two Hearings. I remember the time that if there was a Congressional Hearing with great importance for Ireland, the entire British Army could not keep Peter from attending. His failure to stand up for the Mac Bride Principles is deeply disappointing. I just don’t know what to make of it.” END.
Congressional Hearing. April 28, 2017. CAPITOL HILL. Friday, April 28, 2017—For the second time this week, the House Financial Services Committee held a Hearing on the proposed Financial Choice Act. If passed, the Act would, in effect, eliminate current rules for shareholders’ advocacy for worthy causes, exclude 99% of the American public, and would sabotage the Mac Bride Principles— a corporate code of conduct for American companies doing business in Northern Ireland. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) is the Congresswoman for New York's 12th Congressional District, which includes most of the East Side of Manhattan, Roosevelt Island and extends across the East River into the Boroughs of Queens (including Astoria, Long Island City, and parts of Woodside) and Brooklyn (including Green Point).
The Congresswoman has been an avid supporter of the Mac Bride Principles from the moment the Principles were launched by the Irish National Caucus on November 5, 1984. Indeed, Congresswoman Maloney is very proud that as a member of the New York City Council (1982- 1992), she was a key supporter of the MacBride Bill that was introduced by Councilman Sal Albanese (D- Brooklyn) and passed by the New York City Council.
This Congressional Hearing on April 28 was boycotted by all but two of the 34 Republicans who serve on the Financial Services Committee, including Chairman Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), who has proposed the radical, extremist assault on shareholder advocacy. Currently, and for many years, one could submit a shareholder resolution provided one had for at least one year $2,000 worth of shares. However, if the extremist changes are passed into law, it would mean, for one example, to submit a resolution to Apple, one would need to own, for three years shares worth $7.5 Billion. Fr. Sean Mc Manus—President/Founder of the Capitol Hill-based Irish National Caucus—said: “When one considers that the Mac Bride Principles were twice passed by the Republican- controlled Congress (and signed into law by Democrat Bill Clinton in 1998), it is an extraordinary change in direction for Republicans. I cannot understand why they want to confirm the stereotype (which they claim is unfair) of Republicans only being interested in the super rich. Their assault on shareholder resolutions identifies them with 1% of Americans, disdaining the 99%. I cannot believe that good, decent Republican Members of Congress want to be seen in such a light. The late, great Congressman Ben Gilman (R-NY) must be turning in his grave. It was Ben—God rest his noble Jewish-American soul—who, as Chairman of the House International Relations Committee, helped the Irish National Caucus to successfully push the Mac Bride legislation through the Congress.” Fr. Mc Manus concluded: “I have been hoping that Congressman Peter King (R-NY), a long time outspoken supporter of the Mac Bride Principles— and of how the Principles have combatted Anti-Catholic discrimination in Northern Ireland— would take the lead in convincing the Republicans on the House Financial Services Committee not to sabotage the Mac Bride Principles. But he has ‘been missing in action’ and absent from the past two Hearings. I remember the time that if there was a Congressional Hearing with great importance for Ireland, the entire British Army could not keep Peter from attending. His failure to stand up for the Mac Bride Principles is deeply disappointing. I just don’t know what to make of it.” END.
IRISH CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING Distributed to Congress by Irish National Caucus
“The British government threw everything, and millions of dollars, against our MacBride Principles campaign, and we still prevailed.” Fr. Sean McManus.
Prominent US priest tried to sue BBC’s Seamus McKee after claiming he’d linked him to the IRA
Fr Sean McManus began the action in the late 1980s — but a decade later government officials were still dealing with the consequences.
Sam McBride. Belfast Telegraph. Monday, August 28, 2023.
A high-profile Irish American priest launched a libel action against BBC journalist Seamus McKee and others after being linked to the IRA — but abandoned it after several years, declassified files show.
A file on the matter was drawn up by Stormont’s Department of Economic Development because it had been named as one of the defendants in the action, along with the senior BBC figure, the BBC itself, and former Alliance leader John Cushnahan.
A government department then had to be chased repeatedly after failing to pay a legal bill to defend the claim.
A file declassified at the Public Record Office in Belfast under the 20-Year Rule contains an August 1989 Irish High Court writ on behalf of the Redemptorist priest Sean McManus who was then, as now, National Director of the Irish National Caucus.
Mr. Cushnahan was claimed in the writ to be a spokesman for the department.
The writ said that on December 16, 1988, the BBC’s News At One program involved the “false and malicious” broadcast of the words “because their agenda is not fair employment.
Their agenda is economic destabilization and that is best illustrated by the fact the chief witnesses who have been appearing across the United States are Sean McManus, of the Irish National Caucus, and Martin Galvin, of Noraid, organizations renowned for their sympathy and support for the IRA.”
The writ claimed these words meant that Mr. McManus supported the IRA, was well known for his support for the IRA, and associated himself with an organization well known for its support for the IRA.”
It claimed that Fr. McManus “has been greatly injured in his credit, character, and reputation and in the way of his said profession or occupation and has been brought into ridicule and contempt.”.
The writ made clear that Fr. McManus was looking for money as damages.
The claim ran for years without coming to trial. On February 28, 1997, Dublin solicitors Arthur Cox sent to the Department for Finance and Personnel a bill for 7,604 Irish pounds in relation to its work in defending the claim.
But three years later, it still hadn’t been paid. On March 1, 2000, the legal firm wrote to the NIO to say that “despite my numerous reminders, phone calls to your office, and your verbal promise of October 6th, 1999, that this bill would be settled, we have still not received your payment or any indication why this fee note still remains unpaid.”
Gerry Madden in the equality unit of the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) noted a few days later that “there has not been any mention of reactivation of the proceedings” and asked a colleague to pay the bill.
However, at this point someone has written in hand “Hold — Ann is opening a new confidential file for this.”
An April 11 memo asking for payment said that “the payment was delayed as we were awaiting the outcome to see if proceedings would be reactivated, hence creating more expense.”
On April 27, 2000, Arthur Cox wrote to say that the payment had been received.
But it appears this was sent in error. A ‘’file memo,” whose author’s name has been blacked out, stated that the finance branch had been asked to recall the check and insisted this had happened — but then Arthur Cox’s acknowledgment of payment made clear it had not happened and the money had in fact been paid.
Fr. McManus told the Belfast Telegraph that “on legal advice, I did not pursue the case — and I also thought it would take up too much of my time.”
He added: “Looking back at it all, I am amazed we prevailed because the anti-MacBride campaign was powerfully organized and funded — and supported by both the British and Irish governments, all the political parties in Ireland, John Hume, Cardinal Daly, etc.
“Sinn Fein initially opposed the Principles, but when they saw we were driving the British Embassy crazy, with sweeping victories all across the US, they changed their tune.”
[Note by Fr. McManus, which did not appear in the above article: “Regarding the above claim that Martin Galvin was (along with me) a “chief witness” at Hearings on the Mac Bride Principles, I had explained in an email the following to Sam McBride: “Regarding the mention of Martin Galvin: I testified at all the 18 State Hearings on our Mac Bride Bills (except two— Texas and NJ) I never saw Galvin attend any of them, least of all being a “chief witness.” Likewise, he did not attend or testify before Congress on the Federal MacBride Bill. That was standard “felon setting” (as the Fenians called it back in the day) of the British and Irish Embassy, and the hostile media—if they wanted to demonize the INC, they would always slide in Irish Northern Aid.” (August 24, 2023).
Prominent US priest tried to sue BBC’s Seamus McKee after claiming he’d linked him to the IRA
Fr Sean McManus began the action in the late 1980s — but a decade later government officials were still dealing with the consequences.
Sam McBride. Belfast Telegraph. Monday, August 28, 2023.
A high-profile Irish American priest launched a libel action against BBC journalist Seamus McKee and others after being linked to the IRA — but abandoned it after several years, declassified files show.
A file on the matter was drawn up by Stormont’s Department of Economic Development because it had been named as one of the defendants in the action, along with the senior BBC figure, the BBC itself, and former Alliance leader John Cushnahan.
A government department then had to be chased repeatedly after failing to pay a legal bill to defend the claim.
A file declassified at the Public Record Office in Belfast under the 20-Year Rule contains an August 1989 Irish High Court writ on behalf of the Redemptorist priest Sean McManus who was then, as now, National Director of the Irish National Caucus.
Mr. Cushnahan was claimed in the writ to be a spokesman for the department.
The writ said that on December 16, 1988, the BBC’s News At One program involved the “false and malicious” broadcast of the words “because their agenda is not fair employment.
Their agenda is economic destabilization and that is best illustrated by the fact the chief witnesses who have been appearing across the United States are Sean McManus, of the Irish National Caucus, and Martin Galvin, of Noraid, organizations renowned for their sympathy and support for the IRA.”
The writ claimed these words meant that Mr. McManus supported the IRA, was well known for his support for the IRA, and associated himself with an organization well known for its support for the IRA.”
It claimed that Fr. McManus “has been greatly injured in his credit, character, and reputation and in the way of his said profession or occupation and has been brought into ridicule and contempt.”.
The writ made clear that Fr. McManus was looking for money as damages.
The claim ran for years without coming to trial. On February 28, 1997, Dublin solicitors Arthur Cox sent to the Department for Finance and Personnel a bill for 7,604 Irish pounds in relation to its work in defending the claim.
But three years later, it still hadn’t been paid. On March 1, 2000, the legal firm wrote to the NIO to say that “despite my numerous reminders, phone calls to your office, and your verbal promise of October 6th, 1999, that this bill would be settled, we have still not received your payment or any indication why this fee note still remains unpaid.”
Gerry Madden in the equality unit of the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) noted a few days later that “there has not been any mention of reactivation of the proceedings” and asked a colleague to pay the bill.
However, at this point someone has written in hand “Hold — Ann is opening a new confidential file for this.”
An April 11 memo asking for payment said that “the payment was delayed as we were awaiting the outcome to see if proceedings would be reactivated, hence creating more expense.”
On April 27, 2000, Arthur Cox wrote to say that the payment had been received.
But it appears this was sent in error. A ‘’file memo,” whose author’s name has been blacked out, stated that the finance branch had been asked to recall the check and insisted this had happened — but then Arthur Cox’s acknowledgment of payment made clear it had not happened and the money had in fact been paid.
Fr. McManus told the Belfast Telegraph that “on legal advice, I did not pursue the case — and I also thought it would take up too much of my time.”
He added: “Looking back at it all, I am amazed we prevailed because the anti-MacBride campaign was powerfully organized and funded — and supported by both the British and Irish governments, all the political parties in Ireland, John Hume, Cardinal Daly, etc.
“Sinn Fein initially opposed the Principles, but when they saw we were driving the British Embassy crazy, with sweeping victories all across the US, they changed their tune.”
[Note by Fr. McManus, which did not appear in the above article: “Regarding the above claim that Martin Galvin was (along with me) a “chief witness” at Hearings on the Mac Bride Principles, I had explained in an email the following to Sam McBride: “Regarding the mention of Martin Galvin: I testified at all the 18 State Hearings on our Mac Bride Bills (except two— Texas and NJ) I never saw Galvin attend any of them, least of all being a “chief witness.” Likewise, he did not attend or testify before Congress on the Federal MacBride Bill. That was standard “felon setting” (as the Fenians called it back in the day) of the British and Irish Embassy, and the hostile media—if they wanted to demonize the INC, they would always slide in Irish Northern Aid.” (August 24, 2023).
Fr. McManus speaking in New York City Hall on the 25th Anniversary of MacBride Principles. December 8, 2009: “In effect, A panegyric to Jewish-Americans.”
In 1795 Thomas Paine wrote: “An Army of Principles Will Penetrate Where an Army of Soldiers Cannot” (Agrarian Justice. Pamphlet was written in 1975, published in 1797).
I think that perfectly applies to the Mac Bride Principles.
The Principles penetrated the previously UNPENETRATABLE bastion of anti-Catholic discrimination -- the Northern Ireland State.
In the early years of our campaign, our opponents used to tell us to mind our own business – they clearly did not subscribe to Martin Luther King’s dictum: “Injustice anywhere is an affront to justice everywhere”. But when our campaign began to take effect, they stopped telling us to mind our own business – because when Americans make sure that U.S. dollars are not subsidizing anti-Catholic discrimination in Northern Ireland, they ARE minding their own business.
It is generally accepted that Martin Luther King’s movement would not have succeeded without Jewish-American support. And the Mac Bride Principles would not have succeeded without Jewish-American support.
Just look at the record:
In July 1979, Congressman Ben Gilman (R-NY commissioned the Irish National Caucus to conduct an investigation of the U.S. companies in Northern Ireland.
We then planned to have our principle, “United States dollars should not subsidize anti-Catholic discrimination in Northern Ireland”, enshrined into law. In 1983, Congressman Dick Ottinger introduced Bill HR 3465: “Requiring United States persons who conduct business or control enterprises in Northern Ireland to comply with certain fair employment principles.” We had, of course, modeled the Ottinger Bill on the Sullivan Principles.
Our activity got a lot of attention and soon many State and City officials who wanted to join our campaign contacted us: most notably, New York City Comptroller Harrison J. Goldin and Council Member Sal Albanese (who introduced the very first Mac Bride Bill in the entire United States).
Comptroller Goldin went on to provide magnificent support and economic muscle for the Mac Bride Principles until he left office in 1989. His successors, Liz Holtzman (1990- 1993) and Alan Hevesi (1994-2001), continued to provide indispensable support for the Mac Bride Principles.
My dear friend, Congressman Ben Gilman, Chairman of the House International Relations Committee, championed our campaign in the Congress and the Mac Bride Principles (despite very powerful opposition) became US law in 1998.
So you can easily see the importance of Jewish-American support.
Since 2002, Comptroller Thompson has provided magnificent leadership on the Mac Bride Principles. And here, again, is something that has touched me deeply: the support of African-Americans, who know a thing or two about discrimination. Along with Comptroller Thompson, the other names that immediately come to mind are Congressman Charlie Rangel of New York, one of our very earliest supporters, and Congressman Don Payne of New Jersey.
I have already mentioned Sal Albanese and the key role he played in our campaign. But one cannot mention American activity on behalf of Ireland without mentioning that other great Italian, Congressman Mario Biaggi, who for many years was our key ally in Congress.
Isn’t it very striking? The elected officials who led the campaign to end anti-Catholic discrimination in Northern Ireland were not Irish- Americans, but Jewish-Americans, African-Americans, Italian-Americans, Hispanic Americans, and others! To me, that is the great moral lesson of the Mac Bride Campaign.
God bless America and God save Ireland.
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Read Fr. Sean McManus’ inspiring story ...
His life-long struggle for justice in Northern Ireland.
Order your copies of "My American struggle for Justice in Northern Ireland--Third U.S. Edition 2019— as well as "Mac Ireland series: Books One, 2 and 3."
Order your copies of "My American struggle for Justice in Northern Ireland--Third U.S. Edition 2019— as well as "Mac Ireland series: Books One, 2 and 3."