Sir, - Vera Hughes's definition of marriage (August 22nd), as a "sacrament" and a "religious covenant" is only one - although highly respectable - among others.
A number of countries across Europe consider two people legally married after only a civil wedding, while the religious ceremony is an entirely private matter that not everybody opts for.
Two people can be willing to commit their lives to each other without being religious. Does Ms Hughes deny the significant part of the European population who do not believe in God the right to marry? - Yours, etc.,
Thomas Hubert, Dean Swift Road, Dublin 11.