Madam, - Congratulations to Martin Mansergh TD on his support in the Dáil for RTÉ's Angelus bell (The Irish Times, October 10th).
How sad that a few very vocal secularist fanatics should seek to deprive so many people of the daily Angelus, using the spurious claim that it does not reflect modern Ireland. God forbid that RTÉ should seek to ensure that each aspect of its daily programming be 100 per cent acceptable to everyone.
As principal for many years of an English college, I was amazed at the strength of support I received from people right across the religious, racial, political and philosophical divide when students, staff and parents of my multi-ethnic community decided to mark the year 2000 by constructing a bell tower. Since then, and long after my departure, one of the highlights of each day is the ringing of the Angelus bell at noon.
On the few occasions when the bell was out of action local residents invariably phoned to complain at its silence. People were happy to know that at a certain time each day a particular college community stopped whatever was going on and had a moment of prayerful reflection.
What I find especially mean-spirited about secularists who oppose RTÉ's Angelus is that they are probably equally antagonistic towards the cultural and spiritual riches and diversity of our new Irish citizens. - Yours, etc,
ALAN WHELAN,
Beaufort,
Co Kerry.