TONY ALLWRIGHT,
Madam, - I read with interest in your edition of October 5th that the Church of Ireland Bishop of Tuam, the Rt Rev Richard Henderson, has forbidden the holding of services "avowing friendship" for gay couples in St Nicholas Collegiate Church, Galway I am a little surprised at this as some years ago I wrote to the bishops of the Church of Ireland asking that they exercise a similar power to suspend the offensive Orange services at Drumcree. I was told very clearly that no such power existed.
Its seems a pity that services to affirm friendship and celebrate love can be forbidden whereas services that act as a catalyst for hatred and division remain immune. Apparently, for all its liberal protestations, the Church of Ireland has a long way to travel. - Yours, etc.,
Senator DAVID NORRIS,
Seanad Éireann,
Dublin 2.
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Madam, - I was shocked by the comments made by Mgr Andrew Baker of the Vatican's Congregation of Bishops, no less (The Irish Times, September 28th).
Here are some of his choice phrases : "homosexual tendencies are aberrations that can and should be addressed by both the individual and by competent experts with the aid of behavioural sciences as well as by spiritual means, including prayer, the sacraments and spiritual direction. . .
"Homosexuals may be more familiar with certain patterns and techniques of deception and repression. . .Nor can a homosexual be genuinely a sign of Christ's spousal love for the church. . .if the homosexual could be healed from such a disorder, then he could be considered for admission to the seminary and possibly to Holy Orders, but not while being afflicted with the disorder".
In effect, the Vatican seems to be saying that homosexuality is a curable disease. Like leprosy, perhaps.
I can imagine little that is more un-Christlike and therefore un-Catholic than sentiments such as these in respect of people unlucky enough to be born gay. Suppose the word "black" or "disabled" were substituted for "homosexual"? I would invite a senior Catholic cleric, perhaps Cardinal Connell, to comment on Mgr Baker's remarks. - Yours, etc.,
TONY ALLWRIGHT,
Killiney,
Co Dublin.