Sir, - In response to the letters of Rev David Frazer and Colin Maxwell (November 27th) it is worth remembering that St Patrick's and other pre-Reformation churches were built by and for Catholics in full communion with Rome, the Mass having been celebrated in them for several centuries.
On the Continent and elsewhere, many Catholic churches are made available for Anglican worship without Anglicans being asked to compromise their principles. It is unfortunate that, for very sound reasons, the Catholic and Orthodox churches are unable to recognise Anglican Orders. It is also unfortunate that, for sound reasons, Anglican churches are unable to recognise the orders of Presbyterian and other Protestant churches. Although Rev David Frazer states that he is ecumenical he makes it clear that Rome (and presumably) Constantinople must accept his Anglican conditions before being allowed to celebrate the Eucharist regularly in St Patrick's.
While his principal condition is that we must all "jump together" most Anglican churches had no problem in "jumping separately" a few years ago when deciding to make very serious unilateral changes regarding their own orders. Now the Anglican Archdiocese of Sydney would seem to be making yet another "separate jump" by advocating lay presidency of the Eucharist.
While worshipping and witnessing together is very commendable, if ecumenism is to be of true value, a prayerful respect for good consciences and for sincerely held differences of belief and practice is essential.
For those who may have forgotten, Mr Maxwell reminds us of the official Anglican understanding of the Mass, the very heart of Catholic spirituality, though he omits to explain how Article 31 can be reconciled with the growing practice of many overseas Anglican cathedrals and churches of reserving the Blessed Sacrament for devotional as well as for pastoral purposes. - Yours, etc.,
Francis C.H.R. Bailey, Killiney, Co Dublin.