Sir, - Medb Ruane moved me to reflection with her article: "Listening to the voice of the radical Jesus" (Opinion, December 29th). She does not mention the Holy Spirit. In days of yore the Holy Spirit was often referred to as the forgotten person of the Blessed Trinity.
Again, there are theological lacunae in her references to the Catholic Church. Is she writing about the institutional church or the church as the people of God? She may be right in her criticism of Cardinal Ratzinger as "mind police" of the official "Irish Church". It is helpful to remember that the radical Jesus left his Church to human beings: "Thou art Peter. . ." I would like to find myself among the "few idealists" in line with her Excellency, President McAleese.
Maybe Ms Ruane's next article will be "Listening to the voice of the Spirit". In her research she will find that "the Spirit of the Lord bloweth" where it wills (Isaiah 40.7). Hopefully, she will reconstruct her grandad's statue of Mary. - Yours, etc.,
Fr Dominic Johnson OSB, Glenstal Abbey, Co Limerick.