Madam, - Rev Valentine Farrell (June 1st) is correct. I do believe "in doing and believing exactly as our forefathers did". Why? Because the truth does not change.
Our forefathers believed in this truth and were prepared to die for it. Are we to say that truth can change? Or do we say that the martyrs who died horrible deaths rather than deny their faith were wrong? That there was no purpose to their deaths? That in today's world an "accommodation" could be reached by giving new meaning to words?
Again, Father Farrell is correct in stating that the second Vatican Council "was about much more than changes in the way we say Mass". Too true! It produced a whole new religion.
But one must be fair to the council. It did not mandate the new order of Mass or the many changes introduced into the conciliar Church. But it produced a number of documents written in ambiguous languages open to different interpretations. These are now drawn on to excuse the changes in doctrine.
It may be a good thing to take from the storehouse "things both new and old", but the tendency is to laud the new and discard the old as much as possible. Father Farrell also says "the work of the Council still goes on". So that means that changes will be ongoing and in the process all touch with tradition will be lost. - Yours, etc.,
PÁDRAIG UA CORBAIDH, Doire, Cill na Seanrátha, Co an Chabháin.