Madam, - I read (in last week's Irish Catholic) that the Bishop of Raphoe has reiterated Catholic Church teaching that cohabiting couples must not receive the sacraments. Does he also mean that one of these people would be refused the Sacrament of the Sick, were he or she gravely ill or dying?
There are many cohabiting couples who lead decent, honest, exemplary lives, sometimes in the face of great adversity, far more so than some of the married persons who frequent the altar rails. What of those who live together in a loving relationship and would like to get married but can't afford the socially required wedding? The hypocrisy of it all stinks to high heaven. - Yours, etc,
CHRISTOPHER HANAFIN, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co Clare.