Madam, - As a daily Mass-goer and communicant, I wish to protest most vigorously at the Pope's description of same-sex unions. It is not his business to dictate the behaviour of those whom God has ordained as gay.
It has been my experience that many of those who contribute most to society and, indeed, to the most needy in it are gay and if they wish to marry they should have the freedom to do so.
Using the word "evil" in the context of gay people is un-Christian, to say the least. It is sad that in his fading years the leader of the Catholic Church should propagate the prejudice and discrimination which he should properly be contesting. - Yours, etc.,
MADELEINE CONNOLLY, Dalkey, Co Dublin.
Madam, - It was reported in your edition of July 31st that the Vatican has pronounced that allowing children to be adopted by persons living in homosexual unions "would actually mean doing violence to these children."
I therefore take it as read that the Vatican has simultaneously instructed the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland immediately to cease its vigorous defence of all actions taken against its dioceses and congregations by people who were in fact subjected to violence and abuse when in the care of church institutions. Consistency and getting one's own house in order first are only two of the many reasons why this would be expected.
As for the Church's use of the term "deviant behaviour", I suspect that reasonable people would look at child abuse (whether lay or clerical) as the truly egregious deviant behaviour which needs to be addressed in our society. - Yours, etc.,
HUGO BRADY BROWN, Stratford on Slaney, Co Wicklow.