Sir, - It is long past time for the official Catholic Church to adapt its methods of electing leaders to modern democracy.
Christ founded a fraternity and the only way a fraternity can organise itself politically is on the basis of democracy. Religious orders have been at it for centuries.
Periodic election is the only way of obviating the corrupting influence of power, whether in church or state. - Yours, etc.,
Kathleen Cullen , Killamoat, Co Wicklow.