Madam, - We have reports of bankers and bishops - and the ruling elite of our society - playing fast and lose with the interests and concerns of ordinary people. We have the State claiming it has no responsibility for the misdeeds of the education system and the Supreme Court agreeing. Can we now perhaps understand how foolish it was to ground moral perspectives in religious dogma which depend on other-worldly beliefs for justification?
As the dogma lost credibility, so were our national moral foundations undermined. Ethics based on secular principles of civic virtue and humanist values are surely the only secure moral basis for a modern society. The responsibility for articulating and promoting ethical responsibility lies with all active citizens. We can no longer trust the pillars of our society to have anything but their own interests at heart. - Yours, etc,
DICK SPICER,
Bray,
Co Wicklow.