Sir, – It is not that long ago since we had an all-powerful organisation in this country that preached at us from the pulpit and reminded us forcibly where our duties lay when it came to social and political issues. It was, in effect, its way or no way. The people had to be told how to tick the boxes and should never be allowed to make up their own minds. But times have changed. Or have they?
I refer to offerings from your journalists, specifically Donald Clarke ("How will you answer the religion question on your census form?", Weekend Review, April 23rd) and Róisín Ingle ("On filling up my census", Magazine, April 23rd), warning us that we should not be penning in "Roman Catholic" in the box indicating religious faith on the census form if we are not that way inclined anymore or only partially subscribe to that particular faith.
God preserve us if Ireland continued to be known as a nation of faith and particularly the Catholic faith, your correspondents would appear to be telling us in no uncertain terms. Not that it should be of any great surprise to us, given the significantly imbalanced coverage of The Irish Times of last year's marriage equality referendum (equality everywhere but in the coverage) and the similar one-sided reporting we can expect – indeed already have been subjected to – when the abortion issue goes to the people again. – Yours, etc,
PM WALSH,
Letterkenny,
Co Donegal.
Sir, – I wish to elaborate on some issues arising from Róisín Ingle’s article “On filling up my census”. A citizen has every right to declare his or her religion as Roman Catholic – the level of practice, involvement, even fervour of same is a personal matter which lies outside the business of the state. As regards multidenominational schooling, surely your columnist means non-denominational schooling, as multidenominational implies the education of two or more denominations together, for example Catholic and Church of Ireland.
Indeed our education system needs more input in the areas of valuing the human person, ethical formation, living in society, etc. Education is not merely a training for employment and unquestioning citizenship.
Finally, it is not the business of an Irish Times journalist to proselytise for or against any religion. Exhorting readers to declare themselves of "no religion" is a heavy responsibility with vast implications for our society, with its enmeshed religious and political strands in our schools, hospitals and social services, not to mention the psyche and mental state of the individual.
Strangely, in her concluding paragraph Róisín Ingle does reveal a personal “religious” sensibility but of course Buddha is the acceptable deity. – Yours, etc,
MARY COSTELLOE,
Limerick.
Sir , – Regarding the census question, my favourite definition of a lapsed Catholic is a person who no longer believes in hell but knows they will go there when they die. – Yours, etc,
DERMOT O’ROURKE,
Lucan, Co Dublin.