Madam, - Fr Seán Fagan appeals to "the most basic authority of all: that of the facts" (January 23rd). In so doing he displays once again how little his theology is informed by sound philosophy. He is seemingly under the sway of the Enlightenment scientific paradigm which he inappropriately tries to foist on to the realm of faith and morals.
Fr Vincent Twomey seems to be closer to the mind of Joseph Ratzinger when he asserts the importance of pastors and theologians being "in tune" with the teaching of the Church. Moral and spiritual realities cannot be properly understood by one who does not inhabit them. We are not dealing with neutral facts that are accessible to "pure" reason, for there are no such things as neutral facts and no such thing as pure reason; rather, it is a question of sublime realities - which can sometimes also be experienced as hard teachings - that are the more intelligible and liveable the closer one approaches life at the heart of the Church.
According to Fr Fagan, no convincing argument to support the
position adopted by
Humanae Vitaehas been put forward in the past 40 years.
Bearing in mind what I have already said, one must also distinguish
between the intrinsic merits of an argument and someone's being
convinced by it: that Fr Fagan has not been convinced by the
soundness of various arguments made in support of
Humanae Vitaein no way tells against them. It just means
that he has not properly understood them and I would encourage him
to do something about that "fact" - thereby informing his
conscience. In the meantime he might desist from sowing the seeds
of confusion among those for whom, as an ordained pastor, he has a
duty of care. - Yours, etc,
Dr KEVIN E. O'REILLY,
Laverna Way,
Castleknock,
Dublin 15.
Madam, - Thank God for priests like Fr Sean Fagan who have the honesty and the courage to tell the truth exactly as it is.
Pope Paul VI never declared the contents of Humanae Vitae to be
infallible, but there are those within the church who try to insist
that they are. - Yours, etc,
LYDIA GILLEN,
Downside Park,
Skerries,
Co Dublin.