Madam, - Hugo Brady Brown (Letters, December 12th) describes the word "pervert" as a "harsh term" for a Catholic who became a Protestant. I don't think it was ever intended as such.
The term comes from the Latin verb pervetere, which means to turn away.
Therefore, a pervert is simply "one who has turned away" - in this context one who has turned away from the Catholic faith. It is the antonym of "convert", which in this context means one who has become a Catholic, or turned to the Catholic faith.
Of course, the term "pervert" is now used almost exclusively to describe sexual deviants - those who have turned away from generally acceptable sexual morals and practices. As such, it is now regarded as a deeply offensive word.
However, it is important to understand the distinction between our current understanding of the word and that which underpinned its former use in another context. This word is one of many modern-day insults that had entirely different, innocuous meanings in days gone past. - Yours, etc,