Madam, - Addressing the annual conference of the Irish Primary Principals' Network, (February 5th) the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, defended the place of religious education in a pluralist and multicultural society.
"A Catholic school. . . must have a defined Catholic ethos which should be verifiable in all its aspects," he said.
He feared that a "fuzzier generic Christian ethos" might take its place and surmised that this might hinder the "passing on of the message of Jesus Christ, his truth and his love. . ."
What exactly might a "fuzzier generic Christian ethos" be? Could it possibly be the message of Jesus without Catholic strictures and hang-ups?
What does the archbishop mean by "verifiable in all its aspects"? Does the exclusion of women from ordination remain one of these aspects?
Does the failure to produce a positive theology on same-sex relationships remain another of these aspects? Why would a parent send a daughter, or a gay child, to a Catholic school when the message of Jesus, his truth and his love, are passed on in a sexist and homophobic way?
I note to date that the archbishop supports both women and gay people in matters of civil rights. . . but I note also that he remains "fuzzy" on exactly how they fit into the church.
He demands that the State do its duty but not his own organisation.
Fortunately the message of Jesus has survived the destructive aspects of Catholic ethos which many of us grew up with. . . perhaps largely due to the presence of a "fuzzier generic Christian ethos" which carried a less contaminated message. - Yours, etc.,
DECLAN KELLY,
Temple Bar,
Dublin 8.
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Madam, - I was interested to read of Dr Diarmuid Martin's declaration of the need of a more robust definition of the ethos of a Catholic school.
He says: "It is such, not because it is or was run by priests, brothers or nuns. It is so because it places at the centre of its mission the passing on of the message of Jesus Christ, his truth and his love, from generation to generation, as a factor of liberation, integration and hope in the young person's life."
How robust can you get? I imagine this definition would just as well fit the ethos of any Church of Ireland, Presbyterian, Baptist and Quaker school in the country. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN LOESBERG,
Muckross,
Killarney.