Sir, - I have been following the correspondence that you have been getting on this subject with interest, since I delight in finding evidence that there is considerable attention out there to the keeping, from the heart, of Christ's "new commandment" that we love one another - the badge of his spiritual church.
I particularly welcomed Fr Sean Fagan's letter (January 2nd). I am prompted to point out that in the very early days of the Church as recorded in the New Testament there was undoubtedly a problem with those who were insisting on the letter of the law. This was a detailed law that had been rightly so very important to the devout Jew, but a law that had been flouted in some ways by Christ in favour of what might be called humanity (for instance, healing on the Sabbath) and was superseded by the grace of God, as revealed in his Son, our Saviour. St Paul, in his letter to the Christians in Rome, had to say plainly that "we are not under the law, but under grace", and I feel strongly that a reminder of this is required for some of his servants! - Yours, etc.
John Godden,
Lake Cottage, Glendalough, Co Wicklow.