Sir, – Without even referring to the teaching most sharply contested by Mrs McAleese, that the homosexual orientation itself is “an objective disorder”, Thomas Finegan credits the church with unparalleled respect for the dignity of gay persons. Forbidden sexual expression and denied the right to marry, they are nonetheless, he claims, accorded “equal and inherent dignity” with all other human beings.
At the time when the church saw Jews as blind, carnal, and condemned to perpetual servitude, there were no doubt many apologists ready to claim that the church was nonetheless deeply respectful of Jewish people. Today Catholics are eating humble pie about that disgraceful past, and are rightly apologising to the Jews over and over again. The day may not be far off when we hear a similar apology to the countless men and women robbed of happiness, and in many cases even of life, by mistaken church policies on sexuality. – Yours, etc,
JOSEPH S O’LEARY,
Sophia University,
Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo.
Sir, – Thomas Finegan (January 10th), criticising Mary McAleese for her comments on the church and gays, claims that the church’s attitude to gays is “the same as its attitude towards all people” and that the church “almost uniquely, teaches as true the equal and inherent dignity of all human beings”. He even claims that this is “I suggest unparalleled by any materialist philosophy or secularist ideology”.
Perhaps he could explain how this “unique equality of treatment of all” results in no women priests, bishops or cardinals, or indeed results in schools controlled by his church’s “ethos” requiring exemption from the equality aspects of employment legislation? His claims fly in the face of the basic principles of most non-religious philosophies or indeed almost every humanist morality. – Yours, etc,
ANDREW DOYLE,
Lislevane,
Bandon,
Co Cork.
Sir, – I note your editorial “Church should heed McAleese”, January 10th). Another addition to the list of “shoulds” for Mother Church which has, herself, outgrown and overshadowed any possible god. – Yours, etc,
MICHELE SAVAGE
Glendale Park,
Dublin 12.