Madam, - After reading Fr Tony Flannery's Rite and Reason article of October 17th and Fr Sean Fagan's letter of the same day, I suggest the two should join together and form a church in their own image and likeness.
Firstly they should eliminate the Ten Commandments, especially the Sixth - "Thou shalt not commit adultery" and the Ninth - "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife". We can all have a great time then - off with the old spouse on with the new - and to hell with the children. Our own personal happiness is the ultimate aim. Unhappiness is for suckers.
Of course, this could mean getting rid of the marriage vow, "Till death us do part", and all that old hat. Getting married in Las Vegas, perhaps, in the Elvis Presley Chapel, would be a good laugh, and vowing, "Until boredom us do part", sounds far more fun. This would give us leeway to develop a roving eye for a more attractive and exciting "second union", if the first begins to fade.Look with pity on the naive orthodox Catholics, who struggle through thick and thin, the highs and the lows of married life, faithful to their marriage vows.
I would suggest to Fr Flannery, however, that it is in the first union "where the real presence of God and His love is found". With this presence a "second union" will be much less likely to occur.
I suggest that Frs Fagan and Flannery get back to basics in their ministry. Seek out and help the thousands in "first unions", who rarely voice their need for help and support, but with grace from their marriage vows give their marriage the dignity of greatness. It is time for "first union" couples to revolt and demand the publicity which is so freely given to "second unions".
"Second union" couples cannot receive communion. You can't have your cake and eat it. They had a choice. They made it freely. That's life. - Yours, etc,
MONICA BARBER, Belmont Avenue, Dublin 4.