Sir, - I would like to take issue with some points made by Kevin Hegarty in his article on clerical celibacy in your issue of September 21st. First, I am outraged at his dismissal of the clergy in mission countries (the Third World) as lacking in celibacy. I quote: "There is sufficient anecdotal evidence to suggest that celibacy in the Third World is disregarded". I reject this statement as false and malicious.
I spent 43 years of my life as a missionary in Nigeria. For 21 of these years, I was bishop of a Nigerian diocese. I knew the people, I knew my priests and I knew the language. I know from experience that this statement is false. That the statement is based on anecdotes makes it malicious. I can say that there were some failures, but very few. The clergy I knew were second to none.
Secondly, Kevin Hegarty states only two per cent of clergy whoa make vows of celibacy are faithful to them. That means that 98 per cent are unfaithful - 98 per cent of Jesuits, Dominicans, Benedictines, Cistercians, secular priests, etc. in a gathering of 100 priests, I consider myself one of the two per cent. I look around shyly to see if I can spot the other one. - Yours, etc.,
CSSp,
Merrion Road,
Dublin 4.