Madam, - Patsy McGarry called for "a rational debate on when human life begins" (Opinion & Analysis, September 2nd). A pity he did not follow that advice himself. Instead he resorted to his too frequent attacks on the teaching of the Catholic Church and to describing the Youth Defence advertisement - "Don't use me for spare parts" - as "gratuitous provocation".
It seems that "provocation" now consists of offending the politically correct and that robust and factual debate is off limits.
This is a human rights issue, not a question of religious belief, and there are certainly enough scientists accepting that human life begins at conception to enable the debate to be rational and not biased.
Funnily enough, I think the question would not arise at all except that abortion is now becoming acceptable and advances in science are embarrassingly showing more and more clearly the developing baby.
I leave it to theologians to debate the stance of the Catholic Church throughout the ages but would point out that the Church's teaching has advanced with the sciences. It does seem strange that Patsy McGarry would wish to go back to the supposed early teaching of the Church on this issue while criticising it for not moving with the times on others.
By all means let us have a rational debate on this vital issue but let it be factual and to the point, please. - Yours, etc,
Mrs MARY STEWART, Ardeskin, Donegal Town.