Sir, - Has the Irish Times completely lost its marbles? I read a breathless editorial (December 8th) about how wonderful President McAleese is for having taken communion at Christ Church.
I can understand the President's action. Given the credibility issue about her capacity to build bridges, it makes sense for her to make positive gestures towards minorities. (The relevance of such a High Church practice as communion to 90 per cent of Irish Protestants escapes me - but that's another point.) And just because a gesture may be expedient does not exclude a spirit of generosity.
What I cannot understand is the expression of orgiastic delight by The Irish Times at this harmless bit of presidential PR. The President's religious affiliation was not an issue during the election. Her identification with efforts to maintain and enact Roman Catholic doctrine as the law of the State was.
If members of her own church want to take issue with what she did last Sunday, let them do so - preferably within the confession box. Could The Irish Times please spare the rest of us maudlin eulogies unwarranted by the facts?
Oh for a President whose religion, and whose interaction with religion, was a matter of private conscience. - Yours, etc.,
From John White
Lakelands Close, Kilmacud, Co. Dublin.