Madam, - If Pope Benedict XVI's call for unity within the Catholic Church is to be taken seriously he should, I suggest, make a public apology for all the hurt, harm and suffering he caused to so many people both within and without the Church while he was in charge of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Otherwise his conversion on the road to the papacy remains one of image rather than of substance. - Yours, etc.,
BRENDAN BUTLER, Pennock Hill, Swords, Co Dublin.
Madam, - The new pontiff has expressed his intention to bring together the disparate groups and belief systems that make up the Christian faith; however, this must surely be idle speechifying or else the product of a deluded mind. It is blatantly apparent that the Catholic Church is centuries behind its Protestant cousins in terms of reform and could not, under any recent assessment, meet the required liberalisation that would be necessary to have a meaningful rapprochement.
For example, the Anglican religion has already moved past the issues of pastoral marriage and female clergy and will surely conclude its debate on homosexual involvement shortly with a typically liberal outcome. Not only has the Catholic Church forbidden such discussion within its own ranks, its Hierarchy has elected an anti-liberal as Bishop of Rome. Under such guidance the Church would be fortunate to maintain the status quo and may indeed slip further behind its prodigal children in terms of religious temperance and progressive doctrine.
For most troubled people in this world religion is a crutch upon which to rely in uncertain times; however, many can no longer reconcile faith with social change. In order to fulfil their duty as servants of mankind, the Catholic Church's leaders needs to move their doctrine to provide a welcoming haven for those of a liberal inclination. If it fails to do this the world will not wait. - Yours, etc.,
MICHAEL KEARY, Monaleen Heights, Castetroy, Limerick.
A chara, - Few popes make lasting historic contributions under their original names. Hildebrand (St Gregory VII) and Prospero Lambertini (Benedict XIV) are exceptions and history gave Eugenio Pacelli (Pius XII) an unusual role. Pope Benedict XVI was probably more recognisable than any of his predecessors in his pre-papal role.
Nevertheless, biographies of popes before election tell us little. As papal nuncio in France, Archbishop Angelo Roncalli was known as an active scourge of progressive elements in the French Church, yet Blessed John XXIII is remembered for the Second Vatican Council. Giovanni Cardinal Mastai-Ferretti was hailed as a progressive on his election in 1846, but liberals do not venerate Blessed Pius IX. Benedict XVI has been both the liberal peritus, Father Joseph Ratzinger at Vatican II and the reactionary Grand Inquisitor, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger afterwards. All remains to be seen.
I will draw attention to one area in which the new Pope has been involved. The largest schism in the Catholic Church since the Reformation occurred in 1988 when Pope John Paul II excommunicated Archbishop Lefebvre and five other bishops. Cardinal Ratzinger met and negotiated with Monsignor Lefebvre and later with his successors in the Society of St Pius X. He also has engaged with other traditionalists and said the old Latin Mass (called the Tridentine Mass) in public on many occasions.
Traditionalists will watch Pope Benedict very keenly. This rift in the Church might possibly be healed. But if some traditionalists continue to reject any positive moves from the Holy See, one cannot be sympathetic. - Is mise,
PEADAR LAIGHLÉIS, President, Latin Mass Society of Ireland, Laytown, Co Meath.
Madam, - He would not have been my choice, but I wish Pope Benedict XVI God's blessing on his papacy and pray that he will give wise and caring leadership to the church and work to encourage believers of all creeds. I also wish to reassure my Anglican, Methodist and Presbyterian friends that I do not consider their churches to be "gravely deficient" and that I will continue to pray, celebrate and share communion with them. - Yours, etc.,
JACK MORRISSEY, Acorn Road, Dublin 16.
Madam, - A little while ago, the elderly chief executive of a large and secretive organisation died and was buried with impressive splendour and, presumably, at considerable expense.
Soon thereafter, without consultation with shareholders, again with impressive splendour and, presumably, at additional expense, the directors of that organisation elected one of their own as new CE.
Will someone care to explain how those displays of corporate arrogance may be reconciled with the still-valid mission statement of that organisation's original founder, a certain Jesus Christ. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN ANDERSON, Anderson and Associates, Sligo.
Madam, - For better or for worse, newspapers and media time will be filled with articles about Pope Benedict XVI - his conservatism, his attributes, his history, his relevance, whatever. Even if I can't agree with, or fully live by papal teachings, I appreciate the Vatican touchstone that often runs against the grain of secular society.
There have been too many examples of people in high office giving out the signal that what's right or wrong isn't relevant; it is what you can get away with. - Yours, etc.,
ROBERT DUFFY, Woodside, Hacketstown, Co Carlow.