Sir, - It is extraordinary how much the Holy Roman Catholic Church cherishes the unborn, considering how little it has cared about people after birth during the 2000 years of its existence.
The Catholic Church thrived during centuries of feudalism in which millions lived and laboured in abject poverty in the middle of potential plenty. It is estimated that it owned 20 per cent of all lands in France prior to the French Revolution; it may have owned even more in England before the Reformation. The common people were regarded as livestock.
It blessed both armies in the many territorial and religious wars which stupidly took place. - Yours, etc.,
Brian Savage, Goldsmith Street, Phibsboro, Dublin 7.