Sir, - Yet another missive appears from Rev David O'Hanlon CC (June 15th) and, as is usual in correspondence from this Christian gentleman, the tone is one of supercilious and pedantic superiority.
The idea of a theologically literate laity would appear to be anathema to Fr O'Hanlon - all who disagree with him must be corrected and talked down to. In this instance his victim, who had the temerity to express an opinion, is told that he "must cultivate the subtlety to understand what is unspoken . . ."! Fr O'Hanlon draws attention to "the utter silence of Scripture about St Peter's wife from before the time of the Last Supper . . ." This is indeed interesting and even intriguing to me, a layman (married) who has, as I presume Peter also had, committed his life in partnership to a woman.
Catholic tradition, he tells us, explicates what is implicit in Scripture. Perhaps so, but much of that tradition comes from the writings and pronouncements of Church fathers (not mothers!) who were openly misogynistic and arguably neurotic. Conservatives often appear to identify the Holy See with the Holy Spirit. Real reform in the Church, however (and I believe there are many major reforms yet to come), must move beyond the institutional and the intellectual and the institutional Church must listen to the voice of the Spirit as she moves among the people of God. - Yours, etc., Tony Burke,
Baldoyle, Dublin 13.