Tradition and the Church

Madam, - Pádraig Ua Corbaidh (June 15th) is correct when he says truth does not change. But the expression of truth is always at the mercy of cultural, historical and social conditioning. What is tradition except the interaction of a people with its cultural, intellectual, social and physical environment at any given time?

That the sun orbited the earth was a "truth" traditionally held. Galileo, whose intuition and intellect demonstrated this truth was otherwise, paid a high price for daring to demystify just one aspect of the false god of tradition. - Yours, etc.,

ANGELA HANLEY,

Athlone,

Co Westmeath.