Sir, - I have enormous sympathy for the great majority in the ordained priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church today, who struggle through dark times to carry out their ministry, and I believe they are deserving of our unstinting support, particularly just now. I can also fully understand that the institutional Church should feel it necessary to try to counteract the - to my mind very offensive - portrayal of priestly celibate lives in Father Ted.
That said, I am bemused by the thinking behind a campaign which sets out to explain "the men in black". At a time when many are extremely conscious of the sexism within the structured church, what is the point in highlighting blatant injustice - for that is what it is? Further, since no woman, no matter how strong her felt calling to full ministry, can follow that calling, I believe it is reasonable to wonder: if a man today were to respond to the same call, who is he and what motivates him? It is not easy to understand someone who would wish to join an institution which denigrates his mother, grandmother and sisters.
Vocations to the priesthood in earlier times can be easily understood; today it is a far different matter. Something much more radical than a series of black advertisements is needed to get us out of the present mess. - Yours, etc.,
Betty Maher,
Vernon Grove, Dublin 6.