Madam, - I refer to Donald Clarke's review of the Indian film Water ( The Ticket, June 1st). In the midst of an emotionally laced analysis, Mr Clarke tangentially states: "One is, at such points, inevitably reminded of the Catholic Church's frequent disregard for the civil authorities in Ireland."
This statement cannot go unchallenged as Mr Clarke leaves on the record of your paper an unsubstantiated comment which is both incorrect and gratuitously offensive to Catholics.
It is, of course, part of the media's role to critically evaluate, but while no one is denying past failings, to state that there has been a "frequent disregard for the civil authorities" is unacceptable. - Yours, etc,
MARTIN LONG, Director, Catholic Communications Office, Maynooth, Co Kildare.