The National Maternity Hospital

Sir, – Jim Stack (Letters, February 22nd) takes the position that "traditional Catholics" should have their voices heard. The problem is that since the foundation of the State, the voices that have shouted the loudest have been those of "traditional Catholics".

They were so loud it is only in recent years that other voices have been heard.

The crux of the argument is that the hospital will be publicly funded. So all legal procedures should be available to patients. Everyone is entitled to their beliefs but you can’t expect your beliefs to bind anyone else.

As to the question about the Sisters of Charity providing crisis pregnancy services, I think recent history gives an all too grim picture of how that goes. – Yours, etc,

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ANNE-MARIE LYONS,

Bray,

Co Wicklow.