Sir, – Declan Moriarty (April 12th) lambastes Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton for “[failing] to recognise First Holy Communion as a cultural rite of passage . . .within the Catholic Church”. I’m relieved that we finally have a government with little interest in the religious rituals and ceremonies of private individuals. This is not something that the State should have anything to do with, much less be subsidising. Next step should be to stop class time being used to prepare for the sacraments; parents should deal directly with their church if they want their child brought up in a particular faith. –Yours, etc,
DAVID McGINN,
Mountain Park,
Tallaght, Dublin 24.
A chara, – Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton must know that poor women will continue to clothe their children in lavish communion dresses. The money lenders will be delighted. – Is mise,
JOE KELLY,
Montpelier Gardens,
Dublin 7.