Sir, – Ray Carey makes a fair and valid point (August 30th) when he notes the double standards that prevail at Catholic funerals.
When a close relation of mine died two years ago, I was forbidden by a particular curate in a country parish to deliver a short and prepared script about her life and was told in no uncertain terms that he would not be allowed to permit me to read this out after communion.
However, a prayer at the end of the eulogy was considered acceptable, and I was only allowed to read out the prayer and nothing else.
Every time I see a big showy public funeral, it reopens the hurt of this refusal, and reminds me not only of the refusal itself, but of the different standards that apply to celebrities and public figures.
Death is supposed to be the great leveller for us all, but not it would seem at Catholic funerals; so this does not exactly show a good example or leadership, so either the rules should apply to all, or else they should be scrapped. – Yours, etc,
RACHAEL STANLEY,
Palmerston Grove,
Milltown,
Dublin 6.