Madam, - Like the silent Catholic majority I wish my child to be educated in a Catholic school. However, the Catholic church is once more being denounced by liberal media which display breathtaking hypocrisy. The media denounce the Catholic Church for being too influential in the education system while at the same time demanding that the church provide school places for children of all denominations.
They should stop condemning the Catholic schools and instead demand that the Department of Education provide sufficient school places for all of Ireland's children. I strongly believe that all children have the right to an equal education and all parents should have the right to choose the type of education they wish for their children.
However, in the current media climate it seems that this right should apply to all citizens except Catholic parents who wish their child to have a Catholic education. - Yours, etc,
A HARKIN, Gorey, Co Wexford.
Madam, - I suggest supporters of the current method of allocating places in mainstream, religious-run primary schools try the following mental exercise at least once. Consider your deeply held opinion but replace every incidence of "Catholic" with "Protestant" and every occurrence of "Dublin" with "Belfast".
How reasonable and defensible does your position look now? - Yours, etc,
PAUL McCARTHY, Ashwood, Victoria, Australia.