Sir, - Ian Cox is delightfully controversial and wisely so. The Protestant church in Ireland needs a powerful and turbulent leader in the Lutheran mould. Luther knew no fear, so his truth seared deep into Christian history.
It is time to speak out on Protestant values - north and south - on this island. The Catholic Church in Ireland is in some difficulty. Bishop Casey and Fr Michael Cleary did more to liberate Catholic youth than any other event for centuries. Young Irish Catholics can no longer accept at face value the preaching of their churchmen. Add the sickening litany of child abuse, alcoholism, homosexuality, paedophiles, and it seems celibacy can be a sexual disease.
These problems did not bloom overnight. They must have been around for years but carefully concealed in a conspiracy of Church and State. A shameful shadow on the Christian ethic in a land that bowed its political head to the power of Rome.
Luther said: "the Christian pilgrimage is not to Rome but to the prophets, the Psalms and the Gospel. Here I stand, I can do no other. - Yours, etc
Woodford Green,
Essex.