Madam, - I find myself in total agreement with Fr Gregory O'Brien (April 6th) when he points out how unreasonable it is for non-Catholics to expect a Catholic funeral. Celebrants accredited by the Humanist Association of Ireland have been conducting non-religious funerals for years; this ceremony, very much a celebration of a life, is a beautiful and meaningful way of marking the passing of a loved one.
With the steep rise in the number of people professing no religion highlighted in last week's release of census statistics, it is not surprising that more people are choosing this option.
I am pleased, in this case, to be singing off the same "hymn-sheet" as Fr O'Brien. - Yours, etc,
BRIAN WHITESIDE, Director of Ceremonies, Humanist Association of Ireland, Adelaide Road, Glenageary, Co Dublin.