Sir, - In my letter of July 31st I suggested that those who claim that Roman Catholics in Northern Ireland are second-class citizens should be asked to explain in detail the ways in which they are denied full citizenship, and I enumerated relevant areas such as voting rights, housing, health etc.
John Stafford, writing from Massachusetts in the US, has responded at length (August 11th) but has failed to answer my challenge. He refers to the "superficial equality that has been won". I would have thought that one's civil rights in regard to the matters which I mentioned are far from superficial, but indeed are fundamental.
Mr Stafford concludes his letter by saying that "it may be reasonable to take at face value" the words of a Catholic woman who has been quoted as saying, "They hate Catholics, that's the one thing you must understand about this place. They just hate us." I have no doubt that there are places here where such bitter sectarianism exists. I have no idea what experience Mr Stafford has of living in Northern Ireland. But I can only say from my own experience of living in this religiously mixed and very friendly community, that "they" do no such thing. And I know from my experience elsewhere that similar good neighbourliness is the rule. - Rev Dr G.B.G. McConnell,
Warrenpoint, Co Down.