|PIC1|A UN report on religion and belief in Northern Ireland asks hard questions about religion and sectarianism, the Evangelical Alliance Northern Ireland has said.

The report was produced by the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion and belief following a visit to Northern Ireland in June last year. She raised concerns about "deep-rooted" sectarianism and religious prejudice in the province, highlighting inequalities in labour, housing, education, policing and the criminal justice agencies.

Stephen Cave, National Director of the Evangelical Alliance Northern Ireland, said: "Religion has played a role in sectarianism for a small minority of people, and the church could have been more courageous in speaking out against the deep divisions that have blighted our province.

"Now that both communities are seeking to take great steps forward, the church must be at the forefront of the fight against discrimination."

But he added that the report could have better recognised the important role churches have played and are continuing to play in bringing reconciliation.

"Let's not pretend that religion's the root cause of sectarianism in Northern Ireland," he said.

"The core of sectarianism is cultural, ethnic and political rather than religious, and the report doesn't make this distinction clearly.

"Churches and religious organisations were behind so much of the work done to break down sectarianism during the Troubles, and many are continuing their efforts towards building a shared future."

One of the Christian initiatives that the Evangelical Alliance has partnered with is The Hard Gospel from the Church of Ireland, which has developed resources and seminars to help churches across the country address difficult issues, including sectarianism.

The Rev Earl Storey, director of The Hard Gospel, said the Drumcree stand-off was the catalyst for the initiative, which began in 2005 and works both at an institutional and local level.

"The sectarian issue is very much at the core of The Hard Gospel," he said.

"The Church of Ireland is using this to ask itself difficult questions about whether any of our practises could be contributing to division, and to explore who our neighbours are in 21st century Ireland."