Sir, - Bishop Thomas Flynn's response to the overwhelming desire for changes in the Roman Catholic Church - including the ordination of women - was to dismiss it as evidence of secularisation and to appeal to the Gospel message. However, only a few weeks earlier, he had acknowledged, perhaps unwittingly, that there might be a very different reason for this desire for change. When asked by Olivia O'Leary (What Really Matters? RTE March 6th), the following questions "You are not a woman but if you were, wouldn't you feel the injustice of that [exclusion from ordination]?" Bishop Thomas Flynn replied: "I probably would."
Well, many women and men feel deeply this injustice, thinly disguised as the will of God, and take courage and hope from, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for what is right - they shall be satisfied." But perhaps our bishops consider that this is a part of the good news of Jesus Christ? - Yours, etc.,
Spokeswoman BASIC, Avoca Avenue,
Blackrock, Co, Dublin.