Catholics should bear witness in daily life

Dear Editor, Cathal Barry (‘Some Catholic teachers feel “intimidated” in faith schools’, IC 22/10/2015) reports that some young teachers feel intimidated or fearful sharing their views on their Catholic faith in Catholic schools. 

I hope these teachers will take some solace from the words of Cardinal Basil Hume in his book To Be a Pilgrim, he states that “too many people have been sacramentalised but not evangelised” and that “we must consistently challenge the faithful – including ourselves – with the person and message of Jesus Christ, with the fullness of the Word of God. 

“Faith has to be deepened, strengthened, made more mature.”

As a social worker I am open about my Catholic faith in my work place and I try to witness to it, in how I interact with my colleagues and those who I work with. 

While people can make assumptions about a person based on their adherence to a particular faith, it is a potential opportunity for each individual to engage respectfully in discussion with another, as to what lies at the heart of a person’s commitment to that faith.

Yours etc.,

Frank Browne,

Templeogue,

Dublin 16.