Sir, - I admire anyone who broadens my knowledge and in this regard I am indebted to the Rev Brian Kennaway (April 26th).
Until now, I didn't know that King Billy was comparable to St Ther ese. I was aware of the white horse, but my understanding is that this in itself was insufficient for sainthood status. Maybe there are some miracles associated with King Billy. If there are I would love to hear about them.
On a slightly more serious note, I do wonder if the Rev Kennaway is as empathetic to the Irish Roman Catholic community in the North as Kevin Myers is to his. I await letters from him arguing for structural reform of the UK to make that State less of a cold house for members of the Roman Catholic community. In the UK, Roman Catholics are obliged to live in and be loyal to a state where they can never be Prime Minister or head of state. In fact the head of state of the UK is also head of a church that for centuries actively discriminated against both Roman Catholics and, ironically, members of the Rev Kennaway's own church.
Thankfully, no such institutional discrimination exists in the Republic.
Accordingly, while I acknowledge Rev Kennaway's opinion, I can't help but feel that there are greater injustices in his own back yard, which he is unable or unwilling to see. This is particularly galling as he is apparently still a member of an organisation whose whole raison d'etre is to resist any change to the constitutional status quo.
I don't know the exact words (and I am sure that the Rev Kennaway would be able to help me out here), but isn't there a biblical parable where Jesus chastises us for looking for the splinter in other people's eyes when there are logs in our own? - Yours, etc.,
Cahill McCloskey, Lambay Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 9.