Madam, - While I understand Garry O'Sullivan's impatience (December 15th), he doesn't go far enough. When I read Father Michael Moloney's story I felt that, although unusual, it was good news; that there was an openness and welcome in the way in which he was facilitated so that he might follow his three callings, the first to the ordained priesthood, the second to married life and the third to the ordained priesthood once more. And I wish him well.
However, I wish such openness and welcome might be extended to those other members of the church who, despite their conviction - no doubt no less than Father Moloney's - that they are called to ordained ministry, meet with nothing but brick walls and firmly slammed doors, and this simply on the grounds of their gender, their very essence. This scandalous discrimination surely begs the question: what sort of Christianity is being practised here?
As far as I can see, the whole thing is a mess. - Yours, etc,
BETTY MAHER,
Vernon Grove,
Rathgar,
Dublin 6.