Madam, - Peter de Rosa (May 2nd) demonstrates that various non-Catholic understandings of the Eucharist differ from the traditional Christian teaching consistently outlined by the Catholic Church. This is not news and should surprise nobody.
It seems to me quite futile and not at all in accordance with the true spirit of ecumenism to continue harping on about such differences. The Pope says the only way forward is to truthfully acknowledge and respect such differences.
It was a joy to read in the encyclical how important the Eucharist is to Pope John Paul II and how uplifting Holy Communion is for him personally. Mr de Rosa points out that the Eucharist is one of the great mysteries of religion. It is not for me or for him to fully understand these things, but I think the encyclical demonstrates that the Pope is closer to a truer understanding of God's presence everywhere and God's love for all humankind, particularly as demonstrated in the Eucharist, than many of his critics are. - Yours etc.,
DICK HUMPHREYS,
Sycamore Road,
Mount Merrion,
Co Dublin.
Madam, - I have been following your paper's reporting of the latest papal encyclical and I am delighted to see that it has generated so much interest among your readers, judging by the number of letters published.
Of all the articles I've read on the subject, that by Breda O'Brien in your edition of April 26th was the only that actually informed me of what John Paul II's document was about. Only after I read her article, which contained a few well chosen quotations from it, was I moved to actually read the encyclical for myself. Until then all that had been highlighted by other journalists had to do with inter-church communion rules and policies - which I found a bit of a bore, to be honest.
At Ms O'Brien's recommendation, I have just finished the encyclical, and I now wish to commend her on a good piece of journalism: she reported and informed, and also gave an insightful opinion. I have to agree with her that her colleagues seem to have missed the point of it all. I really wonder whether they or those who echoed their criticisms in letters to the newspaper ever read the actual document in full. I think people who do so will be pleasantly surprised. - Yours, etc.
LUISON LASSALA,
Cunningham Road,
Dalkey,
Co Dublin.
Madam, - In politics the two governments have been sounding a clarion call for clarity, clarity, clarity. But in religion your Patsy McGarry, writing about the encyclical on the Eucharist (The Irish Times, April 25th), seems to want fudge, fudge and more fudge. A lot of your correspondents too, instancing either real or fabricated deviations, seem to desire a "whatever-you're-having-yourself" type of religion. - Yours, etc.,
Father THOMAS KELLEHER,
Courceys,
Kinsale,
Co Cork.