Sir, – I am disappointed by the statement of an Irish bishop that Ireland, through its politicians and media, seems determined to eliminate the engagement of the Catholic Church in the public sphere ("Politicians and media accused of trying to destroy Catholic Church", May 31st). The bishop's statement demonstrates that the Catholic clergy assumes that we are anti-Catholic because we do not want the church controlling our hospitals and schools. How wrong that is. As a Roman Catholic, I don't want Catholic schools and hospitals because I think that non-Catholics, who also pay for them, might feel disadvantaged in using their services. In addition, I want to keep a religious ethos where it belongs – in our churches rather than in our State-funded institutions. – Yours, etc,
GARRY BURY,
Dalkey,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – How encouraging to hear a Catholic bishop, William Crean of Cloyne, call many in the Irish political and media establishments to task for their “gratuitous cynicism towards the Catholic Church” and their wish for “its destruction”, as they see it as a barrier toward “Ireland becoming a progressive society”. – Yours, etc,
JOHN P McCARTHY, PhD,
Professor Emeritus
of History,
Fordham University,
New York.