Madam, - The spurious claims by Cardinal Seán Brady that Ireland's media and the EU are dominated by a secular outlook hostile to religion should be seen for what it is: another attempt by the organised Catholic Church to stem the flow of human rights and social justice to minorities, (eg civil partnerships and equality for same-sex couples). What the cardinal fails to do - and to me this is very shameful - is to bring the Christian messages of love and trying to live a good life to everyone, even secularists.
- Yours, etc,
PATRICK O'BYRNE, Shandon Crescent, Phibsborough, Dublin 7.
Madam, - At last my reservations on the Lisbon Treaty have been voiced by Cardinal Brady. He is heard, but will he be heeded? Unless he is, and appropriate amendments made, I cannot support further European integration. I am committed to European union, but the present price is not acceptable.
- Yours etc,
JOHN MAGEE, Acorn Road, Dublin 16.
Madam, — Cardinal Brady thinks that the "growing unease among Christians" at the direction in which the EU is headed may partly explain voters' rejection of the Lisbon Treaty.
The majority selection of Barabbas in preference to Jesus may prompt him to remember that democracy doesn't always yield the correct answer.
- Is mise,
ALEX STAVELEY, Norseman Court, Dublin 7.
Madam, - Sinéad Ní Bhroin (August 21st), responding to my letter of the previous day, asks where have I been. In three continental EU member-states, where I failed to observe any evidence of concerns about the Lisbon Treaty. Despite ample coverage of the Irish referendum result, it has not resulted in widespread expressions of popular support for the Irish position or a broadly based anti-Lisbon Treaty movement.
In 1998 the people of Ireland voted overwhelmingly in support of the Good Friday Agreement. For the next eight years or so Sinn Féin, ably assisted by the DUP, sought to renegotiate, amend or delay its implementation. They were able to do this because both the Irish and British governments were willing to negotiate with them. This has possibly informed Sinn Féin's position on negotiations.
Unfortunately, this time our EU partners are not prepared to negotiate. With all the other member-states likely to ratify the Treaty by the end of this year and no opposition from their citizens, why would they do otherwise? This is democracy, not bullying.
Ms Ní Bhroin did not inform us of the reaction of President Sarkozy or the French Ambassador to Sinn Féin's proposals. I am certain we would have been informed if the response had been positive. Unfortunately, the consequences of persuading us to vote No were not what Sinn Féin and the rest of the No side predicted. We must face up to this reality and decide what we plan to do. Based on your reports of August 25th from the Humbert Summer School, I get the impression that the Yes side is at least exploring the options.
Maybe Sinn Féin and the rest of the No side would let us know what their fall-back position is if, as is likely, they fail to get "a better deal for Ireland and the EU".
- Yours, etc,
OWEN BROOKS, Rowanbyrn, Blackrock, Co Dublin.
Madam, - Alan Dukes's latest letter in defence of the EU (August 22nd) has 964 words, not including the salutation or his name and address.
Is this privilege accounted for by Mr Dukes's status as a former head of Fine Gael? Or is it simply because The Irish Timesagrees with every word he writes on this subject?
- Yours, etc,
RAYMOND DEANE, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.