Madam, – I wish to clarify a point made by Patsy McGarry when he stated that the Bishop of Kerry, Most Rev Bill Murphy, said “. . . the Church in Ireland will not survive without a committed and involved laity” (Opinion Analysis, October 20th).
In a recent letter read at Masses in the Kerry diocese, Bishop Murphy announced a “ministry of permanent deacons”. And who can become a deacon? “Candidates must be male”. Is it any wonder then that the Catholic Church in Ireland will not survive? – Yours, etc,