Madam, - Unlike Fintan O'Toole (Opinion, September 30th) I am not at all surprised by the results of the poll (Prime Time/TNS mrbi) regarding spirituality and religious practice among "Catholics" in Ireland. I would suggest that rule-keeping is not a sign of active spirituality and praying is not an indication that one is religious (a rule-keeper).
In my experience, Irish people are generous and caring, showing empathy for those in trouble, and a willingness to rally to assist those in need. In short, many of the characteristics portrayed by Christ in the gospel stories.
Perhaps an increasing number of people are confident enough to assert that, no matter how much some men insist on calling themselves "father", adults are capable of acting and thinking as adults. Perhaps adults are not spiritually and morally dependent after all on an institution that, like all institutions, is bent on its own self-preservation.
Perhaps to be an adult human is to be spiritual. Perhaps fewer people are afraid of breaking the rules. Perhaps the institutional Church no longer has the power to punish. - Yours, etc.,
CAITRIONA McCLEAN, Weston Avenue, Lucan, Co Dublin.