Celebration of Catholic sacraments

A chara, – In suggesting that the Irish bishops "need to be more robust in their interaction with Government Ministers and officials", (Letters, July 9th) Anne Kennedy is harping back to a time when the response of ministers to being told by the bishops, particularly John Charles McQuaid, to jump, was to ask, "How high?".

Times have changed. Bishops no longer run the country.

She also questions the appropriateness of the Catholic Church policing “gatherings in homes” pointing out that it “is the function of the Garda to deal with gatherings that breach public health guidelines”.

One would need to be very naive to not realise that the celebration of the sacraments in Ireland is just another excuse to party and the Government has correctly determined that in these circumstances, prevention is definitely better than a cure. – Is mise,

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GREG SCANLON,

Shannon, Co Clare.