Madam, - Quentin Fottrell (Opinion, May 20th) tells that "it's time to stop judging other people for having sex and, while we're at it, stop judging ourselves".
While some of the shifts in attitudes to sexuality have indeed been positive, Mr Fottrell neglects to mention the immense social ramifications of our newly liberated sexual culture.
The consequences of this more promiscuous climate include an untold number of children who do not know their real father, as well as an astronomical rise in sexually transmitted infections. Between 2000 and 2001, the number of reported cases of syphilis alone has risen by 506 per cent.
In order to create a safe and secure society, citizens reserve the right to deem certain behavior unacceptable. This is how any taboo, and indeed many laws, are created.
People have every right to voice their concerns over extreme promiscuity. It is society's unwillingness to pass judgment on various forms of conduct which has led to many of the social problems we face today.
- Yours, etc,
JOHN POWER, Maynooth, Co Kildare.