Madam, - A couple of weeks back, the civilised world recoiled in horror at the savage murder of Margaret Hassan - a woman who had dedicated her gentle life to the rescue and betterment of the poor and oppressed of her adopted country.
In 1945 there died by hanging in Flossenbürg concentration camp one Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Lutheran pastor, anti-Nazi resistance fighter, theologian, philosopher and outspoken opponent of Hitler's dreadful regime. He passionately condemned the Nazi genocide of the Jews.
The present Pope will go down in history as having created the largest number of saints since Peter's day. He also promotes (however guardedly) ecumenism.
Might I suggest that Pope John Paul II nominate these two people for canonisation? Neither was Roman Catholic, though Margaret Hassan was raised in that faith, later adopting her husband's Muslim beliefs. But both may validly be considered martyrs, sacrificing their lives, as they did, for their beliefs and charitable works.
Such a gesture would surely meet with the approval of people of the three great faiths involved. Might Rome so move? - Yours, etc.,
DAVID GRANT, Mount Pleasant, Waterford.