Sir, - Tuesday of this week, May 15th, has since 1993 been designated as the UN International Day of Families. It is therefore sadly ironic that my letter is prompted by the recent controversy about the Taoiseach's personal life.
In particular I wish to address comments made by the Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral (The Irish Times May 14th). Rev MacCarthy stated that there was "an urgent need for the State to support marriage, for secular reasons, especially in relation to the rising numbers of single-parent families".
It is both hurtful and unhelpful that unmarried lone parents should be singled out by a highly respected church leader in this way. Perhaps the Dean could ponder the following questions: In future, could churches and individuals within them call on the State to support marriage, if that is their ideological stance, without singling out what is one of the most stigmatised "alternative" family types in the jurisdiction?
In other words, can't those who hold such views argue for the intrinsic value of such relationships, without holding up other families in a negative light? Would a more appropriate (Christian) position be that the State should cherish and support all families equally? - Yours, etc.,
Frances Byrne, Manager, One Parent Exchange and Network, Kilbarrack, Dublin 5.