The SDLP is proposing a way to break the deadlock at Stormont in Northern Ireland, in a bid to get the power-sharing government there back up and running.
Parties were slammed for not having a working assembly during the funeral of murdered journalist Lyra McKee in Belfast on Wednesday.
Fr Martin Magill told mourners at St Anne's Cathedral: "Since Thursday night we have seen the coming together of many people in various places and the unifying of the community against violence.
"I commend our political leaders for standing together in Creggan on Good Friday.
"I am however left with a question: Why in God's name does it take the death of a 29-year-old woman with her whole life in front of her to get us to this point?".
His comments were met with a standing ovation.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood now wants to remove a provision that relies on cross-community support, which would allow the outstanding issues to be voted on by all parties.
The DUP and Sinn Féin have failed to agree terms to form a new Stormont government, which last sat back in 2017.
The petition of concern means that any vote taken by the assembly can be made dependent on cross-community support if a petition of concern is presented to the assembly speaker.
In such cases, a vote on proposed legislation will only pass if supported by a weighted majority of members voting - including at least 40% of each of the nationalist and unionist designations.
The mechanism was designed as a way to safeguard minority rights in the assembly.
The SDLP has said: "After the tragic events of last week, we cannot retreat into the trenches of distrust and hatred".
Mr Eastwood added: "Our politics has been poisoned and our communities abandoned, now is the time to get this sorted.
"The death of Lyra McKee must be a turning point. We must listen to the public and act.
"There is a simple truth to be faced - politics here has failed.
"That truth means it is our responsibility as political leaders to fix it. We have been casual with our peace and we have forgotten our primary purpose.
"Today, the SDLP is proposing the suspension of the Petition of Concern mechanism for the remainder of this assembly in order to legislate for rights and for all of our futures through the democratic mandate handed to us by the people of Northern Ireland.
"We are also proposing that while the temporary suspension takes place, a meaningful review of the POC is conducted with experts to find agreement on how to protect rights and stop any future abuse of the mechanism.
"The SDLP has the legislation ready to bring progress and equality - we can begin to enact it on the assembly's very first day back.
"This proposal threatens no one. It is about creating the space to get parties back into Stormont to take decisions affecting all of our lives.
"It is clear there is an assembly majority to resolve the outstanding issues if we remove the veto.
"We need to bring our people back together, we need to bring our government back together. This is a time for leadership, for courage and for compromise."
Main image: SDLP leader Colum Eastwood speaks to the media at Stormont in Belfast | Image: Brian Lawless/PA Wire/PA Images
