? Sir, - May I congratulate Vincent Browne on his column (August 20th) in which he makes it clear that while he himself would not vote for her, there are strong and compelling reasons why Dana should succeed in her quest for nomination for the Presidential election.
She is a young, attractive and articulate woman whom I have heard speaking on serious topics in a large public gathering and who impressed me very much. In the interview with Joe Jackson (August 17th) what she had to say about the role of the President under the Irish Constitution was a revelation.
She says herself that she is not engaged on an ego-trip or in search of financial or other material rewards, and I believe her. What impressed me most of all about her personally was the sense of sincerity and idealism which she conveys. As a practising Catholic and one who believes in the truth of what is taught by the Church, she is not afraid to support that teaching on the great moral issues of our time - among them contraception, abortion, divorce, euthanasia, pornography, sexual relations outside marriage, and the harm done to individuals and society by the practice of sodomy and lesbianism.
She is not a hypocrite - a "whited sepulchre, outwardly beautiful, but within all is bones and rottenness" - who professes membership of the Catholic Church while campaigning against the teaching of the Church on these issues of public and private morality.
As a Catholic I accept the teaching of the Church in relation to these issues. Bishop Boyce reminded us at the time of the Divorce Referendum: "Remember that what Christ himself has asked of us cannot be wrong and must be for our good, the good of our families, the good of our children, the good of society."
I do not seek to impose my religious views on others, but my limited, human intelligence also tells me that the Church is right and that the common good is best served by following the teaching of the Church in relation to these matters. I would therefore like to convince others that this is where the truth is to be found, and that my good, your good and the common good is best served by proclaiming the truth whenever it is possible to do so. Does this make me a "fundamentalist?"
I strongly support Dana in her quest for nomination and would urge senators, Dail deputies and county and urban councillors to make it possible for her to run for election. - Yours, etc.,
Judge of the High Court (retd.), Kilternan, Co Dublin.