Madam, - Shamelessly looting the ancient and dead language of Rome, Declan Kelly (Nov 27th) declares: "That other countries have fewer cardinals per capita can only be seen as a sign of their maturity." I calculate that with a population of about five million and with but three cardinals, Ireland has but a fraction above a two millionth part of a cardinal per capita.
To put it another way and eschewing the use of the old Roman tongue, if Ireland's Red Hats were fed to the population in equal parts, everybody would have no more than a two millionth portion of a Red Hat to digest. Clearly all Red Hats are Bad Hats in Mr Kelly's cookbook, but I hope my calculations may give his delicate stomach some reassurance.- Yours, etc,
DONAL KENNEDY,
Belmont Ave,
London N13.