Madam, - Fr Patrick Jones (Rite and Reason, July 3rd) is mistaken when he suggests that Vatican II requires the re-ordering of the sanctuary of Cobh Cathedral.
Cardinal Arinze, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship in Rome, stated in 2003: "Some people think that liturgical renewal means the removal of kneelers from church pews, the knocking down of altar rails or the positioning of the altar in the middle of the sitting area of the people. The Church has never said any such thing."
Pope Benedict XVI has been equally plain. In a specific response to Bishop Laurence Ryan of Kildare and Leighlin, the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger wrote: "It is certainly true that a great number of churches since the Second Vatican Council have been rearranged; such changes, while inspired by the liturgical reform, cannot, however, be said to have been required by the legislation of the Church."
An Bord Pleanála was right to reject the proposed changes. Cobh cathedral is a building of significant historic, architectural and cultural value, and such changes - which are not required - would definitely detract from that value. - Yours, etc,
NICHOLAS J. LOWRY, Villarea Park, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.