Sir, - It was with some disbelief, consternation and even amusement that I read your front-page report (The Irish Times, November 25th) that the Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin was offering the Catholic Church the facility to celebrate Mass there on weekdays. Let me say at the outset that I write as an agnostic, and therefore have no Catholic "baggage" to imply any religious bias. But I know my history, and therefore write from a political viewpoint.
St Patrick's was originally a Catholic cathedral. It was then usurped, along with all other Catholic churches, by the English Reformation. The churches were taken by force (laws or no laws) and not a penny paid in compensation. Incidentally, I deliberately do not use the term "Roman" Catholic as I believe it to have been a deliberate politicising of Catholicism in general.
Come "Emancipation", the churches were not handed back. No, the poorest of the poor in the land had to finance the building of new churches, while the rich continued to use the original Catholic churches. It should be noted here that the fact that it required an Act of the British Parliament to "emancipate" Catholics only proves my contention that the original imposition of Protestantism was indeed a political act.
So, rather than the Dean "offering" to allow Mass to be celebrated in his cathedral, Catholics should be demanding it as a right. Failing that, would it be asking too much, in these days of supposed ecumenism, that all churches be thrown open to all Christian denominations? That way, we just might have a peaceful 21st century - contrary to what has gone before. Need I mention Northern Ireland? - Yours, etc.,
Peter Pallas, Ballynacally, Ennis, Co Clare.