Ordination Of Women

Sir - The tone of Vincent Twomey's letter concerning disputed ordinations (May 8th) seems to intimate that all women in his opinion…

Sir - The tone of Vincent Twomey's letter concerning disputed ordinations (May 8th) seems to intimate that all women in his opinion cannot be ordained. I refer particularly to his sweeping statement: "As a Catholic, Ms Grossman Freyne must know that any attempt, even by a validly ordained bishop, to ordain a woman would be utterly null and void."

As a Catholic and a member of the Church of Ireland I would like Mr Twomey to know that the validly consecrated Bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry will ordain a woman deacon to the priesthood on Ascension Day, May 13th, in St. Mary's Cathedral in Tuam at 7.30 p.m.

As a Catholic and - I assume from the content of his letter - a Roman Catholic, if Mr Twomey wished to attend he could rejoice with us and see for himself the validity of such a joyous occasion. It will be revealed to him that the ordination of a woman is certainly not null and void. - Yours, etc., Walter E. De Lacy,

Billamore, Oughterard, Co Galway.