Sir, - What mind-blowing issues Archbishop Connell and Co have to deal with! Having just recovered from Mary Robinson's bare-headed meeting with the Pope, they now have to contend with President McAleese's "unfortunate incident". Perhaps if our new President was to wear a "nil by mouth" placard around her neck every time she attended a non-Roman Catholic service, these chaps would be happy.
It is a sad reflection that many eminent members of the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland would be happier to wade in the murky waters of sectarianism and bigotry than cross the bridge linking denominational boundaries.
I welcome Mary McAleese's bridge-building and salute her for it. I do hope she will follow the lead taken before her by Mary Robinson - so that, when she goes to visit the Pope, not only will she leave her hat behind in the Aras, but make sure that she will be the one wearing the trousers. - Yours, etc.,
From Jean M. Lane
Deerpark Road, Dublin 15.