Madam, - Rev Paul Clayton-Lea (June 22nd) takes Canon B.F.B. Lougheed to task for describing tradition as "the dictatorship of the dead". Father Clayton says the words should read "the democracy of the dead", a phrase from Chesterton.
Tradition is really about the "deification of the dead". The longer one is dead the rosier becomes others' perception of how wonderful one was when alive. However, tradition, like the law, can sometimes be a bit of an ass - both secular and church tradition alike. - Yours, etc.,
IRENE REDMOND, Granville Road, Dun Laoghaire.