Madam, – If the Archbishop of Tuam considers the recent antics of Joe Coleman at the Knock Basilica as degrading the praise and glory of God, then he should be factual that there never was an appearance at Knock in 1879. The continual charade at Knock by the Roman Catholic church degrades God just as much as Mr Coleman.
There is nothing wrong in praising God in any setting, nor in creating a special place of communal prayer; our pre-Christian ancestors used water wells, and Lough Derg as places of spiritual renewal. What degrades God in places like Knock is the Mammon- serving; ie the selling of relics and souvenirs, ironically made in atheist China. God has no favourites, rather He calls each person to be a living witness to Him. – Yours, etc,