Madam, - I am reluctant to venture into an exchange of views between religious journalists. It was, however, with great astonishment that I read in Kieron Wood's letter of April 28th that I had "condoned the use of general absolution in a way which remains the exception rather than the rule".
That is not and has never been my position. The sacraments use human signs and language to communicate God's grace. In the sacrament of Reconciliation the human sign is one of apology and forgiveness. In our relations with one another, we can hardly hope to be forgiven a serious injury without expressing the reasons why we need the forgiveness we seek.
As I wrote in a pastoral letter some years ago: "That is why, apart from the most exceptional cases, which are very unlikely to arise in Ireland, the honest confession of any grave sins one has committed is always required for the reception of the sacrament of Reconciliation".
The suggestion that on the question of altar girls I was out of line with the policy of the diocese of Dublin at that time is false.
Yours etc.,
DONAL MURRAY,
Bishop of Limerick,
Limerick.