UNREALISTIC RELIGIOUS VIEW

This letter appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Unrealistic religious view

Although undoubtedly sincere, the column from the Rev David H Clark (First Person, January 21) about why some Anglicans cannot take the road to Rome is very short on any kind of reason or logic.

Basically it seems to be saying "I don't want to be Catholic because I don't like some Catholic teachings" – never mind what is true and what is not.

The "gay" issue is quoted; the Catholic Church cares for all, but is not afraid to say what is instantly obvious from even the natural law, that physical homosexual acts are quite wrong.

Papal infallibility is grossly misrepresented: in fact it refers only to papal teachings given as universal shepherd to the flock on matters of faith and morals. Why should conformity to defined dogma or truth be a problem?

Who says that the Catholic views on sex, gender and clerical celibacy, and the ordination of women are "unjustifiable"? Abortion is a posh word for murder of an unborn child, and even many Anglican clergy would regard marriage as indissoluble.

To sum up, it is not possible for abortion, and other issues, to be both right and wrong. Anybody who wants freedom to believe something wrong is something right, or vice versa, is being unrealistic.

Hugh Montefiori was, of course, well known for lack of orthodoxy; and my Anglican friends had little time for what he preached.

Mark W Jacques, OP, Quorn