Madam, - "A lingering desire for Church power remains a huge roadblock". With these words Fintan O'Toole (Opinion, October 12th) has uttered a major understatement, especially for one who has lived through and suffered the disastrous bullying the Catholic Church was able to inflict in Ireland in the middle of the 20th century, and which is detailed superbly in Tom Garvin's new book Preventing the Future - Why was Ireland so poor for so long?
As well as recording the history of his subject, Garvin offers an excellent analysis. Very clearly illustrated for this writer is the reality that the leadership of Irish Catholicism was then its own worst enemy in terms of maintaining the adherence of Irish people. The only way a start can even be made in removing the suspicion that Catholicism wants to force its beliefs down everybody's throats will be for the Catholic Church itself to demand a clear separation between Church and State. We simply do not have a secular state, even now, nor do we have anything approaching it.
A truly secular, multi-ethnic country would do what the French have just done - ban the outward display of all religious symbols in state schools (and hospitals). Of course to do that, our school system would first have to be put under the management of our Government. It is truly incredible to look at the rest of the developed world and to realise that our Department of Education does not manage our national schools.
Of course, it should be noted that Garvin identifies the Catholic Hierarchy of the time as only one of the stultifying influences that existed. Another, equally destructive one, was made up of the language revival fanatics. It should be instructive to Catholicism that the Irish language is now actually quite popular - because people are exposed to it in a non-threatening, engaging fashion. - Yours, etc.,
SEAMUS McKENNA,
Cluain Shee,
Aikens Village,
Sandyford,
Dublin 18.