ROBERT MacCARTHY,
Sir, - What seems to be lacking in the Dunboyne school dispute is an appreciation of the nature of religious education. It is a subject in its own right and has nothing whatever to do with the preparation of children for first Holy Communion and Confirmation.
The Roman Catholic Church has been very quiet in this controversy and it is not hard to guess the reason. For if Holy Communion and Confirmation preparation took place outside the school curriculum (as it should), then the numbers being presented for these sacraments are likely to be significantly reduced. The Church seems happy that, instead, almost everyone should be prepared for nothing more than rites of puberty by teachers who may never darken the church doors themselves. - Yours, etc.,
ROBERT MacCARTHY,
Dean of St Patrick's,
The Deanery,
Upper Kevin Street,
Dublin 8.
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A chara - As a former president of gaelscoileanna, and one who has listened to both sides involved in the dispute in Gaelscoil Thulach na nÓg, Dún Bóinne, may I record my belief that those involved in this dispute on both sides are honourable people who share the highest ideals and hold the best interests of the school and its pupils at heart.
I am saddened by Proinsias Mac Aonghusa's attempt (August 3rd) to link this unfortunate situation with events in the past and his regrettable references to "Rome rule". Sectarianism does not feature here at all. This is a disagreement between two groups who are both in favour of interdenominational education.
It is disturbing that those who support having Protestant children and Catholic children educated together in the same classroom have been portrayed in some sections of the media in recent weeks as being some kind of Alabama-style segregationists. Such a portrayal is a gross injustice. - Is mise,
VIVIAN UÍBH EACHACH,
Crois Araild,
Baile Átha Cliath 6.