Sir, - Mr Gary Byrnes responded (May 23rd) to recent reports on the proposed 1996 Education Bill with particular reference to "church control". The story of church control being "copperfastened" does sound worryingly undemocratic. However, I think Mr Byrnes's comments on religion and religious are unfair, unbalanced and unhelpful.
Religious were involved in. health and education through the years when there was no one else to take on the task. Would a child in Mr Byrnes's care remain "empty of dogma"? The child may indeed be very confused to find Catholic teaching (e.g., "immaculate conception") a Bible story ("water into wine") and threatening sermons ("fire and brimstone") all in the class of "banal concepts".
Separating matters of church and State may be a good thing but I don't think insulting the Pope (or anyone) or branding religious constitutes intelligent debate. - Yours, etc.,
Deerpark East, Westport,
Co Mayo.