TONY FORDE,
Sir, - I never cease to be amazed at the outpourings in the press (and in other media) of Father David O'Hanlon (August 1st).
His latest attack on a leading member of the Church of Ireland - our fellow Christians - on the occasion of the retirement of Archbishop Walton Empey makes me feel ashamed to be a Roman Catholic.
Father O'Hanlon's arrogance - as displayed both in the question he poses and in the intemperate wording of the question - is all the more to be deplored at a time when the Hierarchy of the Catholic Church in Ireland is featuring prominently in the media for reasons relating to rather unChristian policies/practices (to put it mildly).
His talk of an "impertinent swipe" on the part of Dr Empey beggars belief when account is taken of his own outpourings in the press and his performances on TV.
Perhaps Father O'Hanlon could do all Christians in this country a big favour by taking early retirement or a long career break. - Yours, etc.,
TONY FORDE, Shenick Avenue, Skerries, Co Dublin.
Sir, - The answer to Father David O'Hanlon's verbose question regarding Dr Empey's valedictory statement is "No". - Yours, etc.,
PATRICK A. McDONALD, Glenageary Road Upper, Co Dublin.