Sir, - The Very Rev. Matthew Byrne asks (September 26th) if bishops and priests have a lower standard of professional conduct than, say, doctors. Obviously so. The highest ranking prelates in Scotland, Cardinal Winning and Archbishop O'Brien, publicly expressed the hope that Bishop Wright would return to the priesthood. By then, they already knew that he had eloped with a divorcee and fathered a 15 year old son by another woman.
The only condition put on Bishop Wright is that he must not commit the sin of matrimony. For Catholic priests, celibacy is obligatory, chastity is optional. - Yours, etc.,
Ashford,
Co Wicklow.