Madam, - The letter from Cardinal Ratzinger to the bishops on the "Collaboration between Men and Women" (The Irish Times, August 2nd) outlines the Catholic Church's thinking on women and their place in the world, church, and family.
Not surprisingly, and quite rightly in my opinion, feminists have vociferously opposed this document on a number of grounds. However, I am disappointed at the lack of response from fathers' rights groups and others interested in the status of men in Ireland.
One of the few positive aspects of the document was Cardinal Ratzinger's call for an "appropriate work-schedule" so that women can better balance the demands of working both inside and outside the home.
There is, however, no call for this balance to be extended to fathers also juggling the demands of home and working life. This is a result of the Church's basic premise that men do not need a balance between their home and working lives because they have no major involvement in the home beyond being its breadwinner.
Many commentators in Ireland have complained that fathers are being marginalised. The Vatican letter reinforces such marginalisation, and with the historically close relationship between the Church and the State in Ireland it is not difficult to see how we have reached a situation where the law affords little protection to fathers. The Church still views women as the primary carers for children, the mainstay of the private domain, and men as breadwinners and the mainstay of the public domain. Such a situation benefits no one.
Why has there been no reaction from Irish fathers to this letter? Come on boys; speak up! - Yours, etc.,
GRACE EDGE, M.A. (Women's Studies), Maplewood Road, Springfield,
Tallaght, Dublin 24.