Madam, - "For wherever two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18.20.) What a pretty pass when Christians are forced to apologise to the Catholic Church authorities for following Christ's teaching.
Conformity may have triumphed briefly, but it is a pyrrhic victory; the Church authorities fail to see that Christianity has lost out in the pursuit of orthodoxy. Jesus wept! (John 11.35.) - Yours, etc,
NIAMH CROWLEY, Orchard Drive, Ursuline Court, Waterford.
Madam, - Christopher McCamley (May 18th) did not tell us the punishment he envisages for the repentant friars of Drogheda. An auto-da-fe at the Papal Cross? Thumbscrews on the Boyne Bridge? A theological re-education progamme led by Christopher McCamley? - Yours, etc,
BRENDAN McCONVERY, Collegio San Alfonso, Rome.
Madam, - I read the reports of the funeral in Ballymena of Michael McIlveen and was pleased to see boys of both religious and football persuasions wearing Celtic and Ranger shirts side by side. I wondered if maybe there was a chance for the future.
I read the reports of the coerced apologies from three Augustinian priests who, as far as I was concerned (and I think most Christian people in Ireland would agree) were only trying to demonstrate a similar message - and I wondered if there can ever be a chance for the future.
Those who demanded this apology are the leaders of our church and they are definitely looking to the past. - Yours, etc,
PAUL CONDRON, The Headlands, Bray, Co Wicklow.
Madam, - The controversy over the Easter Mass in Drogheda relates mainly to the basic tenet of transubstantiation. As such, the debate could be better informed if a survey were carried out to find out how many Catholics genuinely believe they are partaking of the actual body and blood of Christ when they receive Communion. From speaking to people about this issue I believe that the response to this question could move the debate forward (obviously not a direction favoured by some). - Yours, etc,
RICHARD POPE, Carrigaline, Co Cork.