Sir, – I cannot admit to taking comfort in Joe O'Hanlon's iffy claim (January 8th) that Lumen Gentium "leaves open the possibility, on one reading, that God's salvation is possible for atheists of goodwill". Even if more at home with the other readings, I can admit to being stumped for a counter-argument. Is it harsh to propose that the church likes it that way? – Yours, etc,
OWEN MORTON,
Sutton,
Dublin 13.
Sir, – Joe Humphreys would defend the parish against dismantling by atheists on the grounds that "the Catholic Church is one of the only institutions in Irish society that talks about fundamental values, meaning and human purpose" ("Why Irish atheists still need the Catholic Church", Opinion & Analysis, January 14th).
In the run-up to the recent marriage equality referendum, the Catholic Church was the main institution to oppose “fundamental values, meaning and purpose” for gay people.
Amazingly, most atheists and humanists showed themselves to be more grounded in fundamental human values than the leaders of this institution, with its power base in the local parish.
Joe Humphreys would add that “the importance of having strong communities that emphasise the inherent value of every human being should be obvious”, and that “we need to be able to put universal, humanitarian interests ahead of national , local or denominational ones”.
The Catholic “parish” has shown itself to have serious weaknesses when it comes to exercising some of these values, in particular “the inherent value of every human being”.
Whatever about dismantling the parish, local communities might begin by insisting that every parish should have on its committee at least one atheist or humanist, so to ensure that it did not stray from its commitment to the inherent value of every human being. – Yours, etc,
DECLAN KELLY,
Dingle,
Co Kerry.
Sir, – Religion is usually a matter decided, initially, by geographical location, and atheism is the product of selective reflection in tolerant, wealthy societies. Once acknowledging this evident base line, the existence of the human ” spirit ” should be acceptable to both sides as one’s thoughts are not exterior to the self and must be made of something. Furthermore, predating defined ethics and codes of morality, imagination and speculation are long-standing human tendencies and are also beneficial to humanity, whether there is a God or not.
Pedantic atheism and myopic religious beliefs simply muddy the waters, and through their equally unproven obfuscation have more in common than they think. – Yours, etc,
EUGENE TANNAM,
Firhouse,
Dublin 24.