Madam, - I'm sorry to dash Mary Stewart's hopes (February 2nd). Not only was I baptised a Catholic as a baby but I have made a rational, adult decision to remain one. Much as it pains me to add insult to injury, I must also confess that I am privileged to be Minister both of the Word and of the Eucharist.
I must further confess that the Dominicans of the Priory Institute even trust me to be a co-ordinator of their country-wide distance education theology programme, having 22 students in my care in the midlands/west.
If Mary Stewart would like a good, solid theological education in the Dominican tradition, ecumenical in nature and in the spirit of Vatican II, I'd even be willing to be her co-ordinator when she reached reach Level II, as Donegal comes into my bailiwick.
For all its faults, isn't it great that the Catholic Church can contain both Mary Stewart and Angela Hanley? - Yours, etc,
ANGELA HANLEY, Athlone, Co Westmeath.
Madam, - Joseph Foyle (February 4th) believes that everyone who dissented from the Humanae Vitae encyclical has sinned and as a consequence should now fear the judgment of God as death approaches; whether these dissenting sinners end up in the fires of hell or the lesser torments of purgatory depends on the judgment of the Lord.
I proffer an equally acceptable and theologically sound opposing view on the subject. Every Catholic is obliged to follow their conscience, which is the voice of God within their inner being, and which should not be equated with any ready-made answers to moral dilemmas. If a Catholic does not obey the moral conclusions reached through their moral reasoning then indeed they are doing wrong - or, in the terminology of Joseph Foyle, they are "sinning".
Mr Foyle is subtly threatening all dissenters from Humanae Vitae with hell fire, but I believe he is in for a great shock when he meets the Lord at death; he will experience no threatening, judgmental God but a Lord of absolute love and mercy. - Yours, etc,
BRENDAN BUTLER, The Moorings, Malahide, Co Dublin.