Madam, - John Morrissey (July 17th) claims that "it has been proved down through the years that the old-style Latin Mass. . .was the main reason why people felt alienated from church-going and Mass".
Every indicator of religious identity, practice and belief demonstrates a contrary trend. Who fills more pews: the generations whose Catholic identity was formed by a vernacular liturgy or the generations oppressed by a centuries-old Latin heritage?
I'm inclined to agree with a certain Cardinal Ratzinger who wrote: "I am convinced that the ecclesial crisis in which we find ourselves today depends in great part on the collapse of the liturgy". But, as Mr Morrissey would doubtless agree, de gustibus non disputandum. - Yours, etc,
THOMAS MURPHY,
Newbridge,
Co Kildare.