Courtney McGrailDear Editor, A certain amount of sympathy must be extended to some priests of the Irish Catholic Church.
Many may have felt that, through deeper and long-term thought, they have lost their vocation, and that the Catholic Church is not for them.
A few of these may feel that they are no longer fitted for work in the civil sphere. They may feel that they must, therefore, even for perhaps economic reasons, remain in the Church.
It is noted that the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) has remained on the fence in the face of serious challenges, such as the deliberate taking of unborn human life and the re-definition of marriage.
Most of these issues are ultimately related to an unequivocal (Christian) view of the sacredness and uniqueness of human life.
Most other churches take a more equivocal view, making it easier to belong. However, a number of Anglicans, for example, have left their own church and joined with the Catholic Church for this very reason.
Perhaps it may be time for the members of the ACP to do the same in reverse.
As many stand at present, they seem to be either unable to understand, or unwilling, to explain Church teaching, and so present a view to Catholics which is likely to be misleading.
Yours etc.,
Donal O’Driscoll
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.