Sir, - I read Fr Manning's letter on clerical celibacy (June 10th) with some interest. I live in a parish in the Diocese of Plymouth in England. Our parish priest is a former Anglican minister, married with two small children. Singlehandedly, he ministers not only to our parish, but also to a neighbouring parish. Without him, neither parish would have a priest. I very much doubt that his appointment was made for ecumenical reasons, which, if one accepts what Fr Manning says, is the only reason for such appointments.
When I first heard we were to have a married priest, I thought many parishioners, particularly the older ones, would object. Far from it. The only reaction was sadness and anger at the Catholic Church's intransigent stance in not allowing her own priests to marry and carry on their role as priests. - Yours, etc., Patricia Joseph,
St Cleer, Liskeard, England.