Sir, - Fathers John Carroll and Dudley Cleary (December 20th) take Andy Pollak and the media in general to task for not properly understanding official Catholic teaching and engaging in a proper dialogue with modern Catholicism. They go on to state that the following of one's conscience, or "lights", has always been a central part of Catholic teaching and is now enshrined in the recently published Cathechism of the Catholic Church!
I am perplexed! When, in 1985, I followed my conscience and my "lights" Cardinal Daly removed me from my parish and banished me to an ecclesiastical Siberia from which I have not been allowed to return.
Now that the good Cardinal has retired, are Father Carroll and Father Cleary sending me and others like me the message: "Herod is dead. It is safe to return"? I would be grateful if the reverend gentlemen would tell me which Irish bishop, diocese or parish I should now approach to consummate my reconciliation and minister according to my conscience. Yours, etc.,
The Oratory, Prince's Gardens, Larne, Co Antrim.