Madam, - Seamus de Barra's array of theological claims (January 5th) is among the most strange and mystifying I have read.
If these claims are made on foot of courses taken or books bought, I think a refund is in order. It would take too long to respond in a comprehensive manner to all the points that require attention. Instead, I recommend Mr de Barra to read the book What Happened to Sin?, by Fr Sean Fagan SM.
He will most likely find it shocking, but I hope he will be enlightened by the solid Catholic theology he will find between its covers. - Yours, etc,
ANGELA HANLEY,
Beech Park,
Athlone,
Co Westmeath.
Madam, - Seamas de Barra tells us that "mankind's procreation before original sin seems to have been virginal". His astounding logic for this seems to be that, as Mary was the only Biblical figure we "know of" who was free from original sin and Mary managed to procreate while maintaining her virginity, therefore humanity procreated without having sex before original sin.
I don't know which Christian sect, if any, Mr de Barra belongs to, but even the Catholic Church accepts the evolution of species through natural selection now has never suggested that at any time people procreated without having sex. — Yours, etc,
ANDREW PEREGRINE,
The Cloisters,
Dublin 6W.