Madam, - I read, with increasing dismay, the summary of Fr Vincent Twomey's Word article on "informed conscience" ( The Irish Times, December 27th). Is Fr Twomey serious when he suggests that we must "submit" to the moral teaching of the church, even when the reason behind that teaching remains unclear? Is he seriously suggesting a return to the blind obedience of our past?
This is a dangerous position to take. It calls for the investment of great power in those who would interpret the word of God. Historically, such power has led to control and corruption. It causes us, as the people of God, to lose our ability and our confidence to stand up for what we know in our hearts to be right and true.
Has Fr Twomey learned anything at all from our tragic history of the violation and abuse of human rights? - Yours, etc,
MARGO McKAY, Glenageary, Co Dublin.
Madam, - May I suggest that Fr Sean Fagan SM (December 29th) rather spoils his dissent from the views of retired Maynooth professor Fr Vincent Twomey? He equates sinning with going to or being "in hell". Surely it is elementary Catholic theology that one may sin (including by consciously in conscience dissenting from official teaching) but, due to mitigating factors, not arrive in hell. - Yours, etc,
JOSEPH F. FOYLE, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.
Madam, - I have not yet read the January Word magazine but I respect Patsy McGarry's report of Fr Vincent Twomey's article " as presenting a fair abstract of what Fr Twomey has to say.
It brings me back to the halcyon days of my youth when life was simple and the Roman Catholic Church taught by diktat. The theological culture of the day was: "Rome has spoken" - accept it or be damned. It was simple, straightforward and dry as dust.
Then a temporary, caretaker Pope came along and set up Vatican II and our world was never the same again. We had to think, to try to understand, to know what it was to be confused, to make decisions and to come alive in Christ.
Fr Twomey's eminence in his field is respected, his bona fides unquestionable, his commitment unshakeable and his right to express opinions and interpretations unassailable. Fortunately, all of this does not make him infallible.
I would ask him to re-read the First Letter of St John, 3:21: "My dear people, if we cannot be condemned by our own conscience, we need not be afraid in God's presence." - Yours, etc,
KEVIN HEALY, Hampstead Avenue, Dublin 9.
Madam, - Fr Sean Fagan's uncharitable personal attack on Fr Vincent Twomey rather inexplicably omits any reference to formation of conscience.
Many, many Catholics today happily quote freedom of conscience while wilfully remaining ignorant of the teaching of the Church. They are happy to accept its misinterpretation through anti-Catholic propaganda. It is certainly arrogant to set oneself up as more competent than the Church to interpret the teaching of Jesus. After all the Church has had 2,000 years of experience. - Yours, etc,
(Mrs) MARY STEWART, Donegal Town.