Madam, - Father Tom Ingoldsby (June 25th) tells us that Fiona O'Malley, TD should refrain from promoting freer availability of condoms because "women should be the guardians of purity of the young".
When will Catholicism be able to come to terms with the fact that sexual activity is not impure or unwholesome, but rather a healthy and normal way of expressing love and affection? Ms O'Malley is merely trying to make sure when citizens embark on a sexual relationship their health is given every protection.
As for guarding the purity of the young, why should this be the sole responsibility of women? It is time that the utterly impossible ambition of being both virgin and mother stopped being foisted by Father Ingoldsby and his colleagues on the young women of Ireland. Women and men, mothers and fathers, should all form part of the team which educates and guides our young people to a healthy adulthood. - Yours, etc.,
HELEN BROWNE, Heatherview Close, Dublin 24.
Madam, - I sighed when I read Father Tom Ingoldsby making his point. Don't the clergy realise that they have lost all credibility where matters of sexuality are concerned?
The Church should give up this particular battle: it has lost it. - Yours, etc.,
BOB STRUNZ, Clonfadda, Killaloe, Co Clare.