Sir, - It was with much hilarity that I read Joe Foyle's article on Catholicism and greed (Opinion, December 6th) As a firmly non-Catholic (and non-any-religion for that matter), I welcome the terminal decline of the once powerful position of the Catholic church in Ireland and the collapse of its regressive grip on people's attitudes and opinions. Ireland is a better society for it.
The movement of workers in this country at the moment for decent wages and a better standard of living has nothing to do with greed but everything to do with workers getting a fare share of the wealth they created. How else do workers keep ahead of inflation? How else do young people buy houses ridiculously overpriced by the activities of property speculators and their corrupt politician friends in the establishment?
Joe Foyle, in his pathetic attempt to find the root causes for worker volatility, completely misses the point. It is very interesting that he places the question of greed at the feet of workers. What about the bosses? There is one reference in the article to the fact that "greed dominates all classes", but there is no mistaking the general thrust, which is to put blame workers for all this perceived greed. Bosses and politicians trying to keep wages down propagate the same tripe daily. - Yours, etc.,
Michael Murphy, Seatown Park, Swords, Co Dublin.