Sir, – With regard to Rev John McNeil Scott’s letter (June 25th), I have no argument with his assertion that “among the fathers and mothers of democracy were those who sought reform in the church in centuries past” and I do accept that the Catholic Church actively sought out its hegemony over society in the Irish State; dominance cannot happen in any other way.
I’m not sure if he accepts my view that this dominance was made possible by the partition of this island into two ghetto states. Would he accept that – whatever the varied failures of judgment which lead to partition – it has left us all spiritually and culturally diminished? – Yours, etc,