Church doctrine

With regard to Stephen McGinty's article, "Leaner Church displays hope for the future" (23 October), to defend the doctrinal teachings of the Catholic Church - as ex-pounded by Scripture, the living tradition and the Magisterium of the Pope and those bishops in communion with him - is neither to be "on the left" nor "on the right". It is merely to be Catholic.

Having read every edition of Cath-olic Truth since its inception, I have never seen any criticism of priests for failing to hold their hands apart a certain distance.

If such a remark in Stephen Mc-Ginty's article was meant to paint Catholic Truth and its readers as some sort of pedantic rubricians, it was petty and unjust.

JAMES GALLAGHER

Ormonde Drive

Netherlee, Glasgow

Having been interviewed by Stephen McGinty about the collapse of orthodox Catholicism in Scotland, and having provided him with documentary evidence of our bishops' complicity in its virtual demise, I looked forward to his article, apprehensive only that I might inadvertently be misquoted.

I need not have worried. For while not one word of mine appeared, generous space was granted to several dissidents.

Stephen McGinty's comment that "in Scotland, the Catholic Church is a broad institution" is a concept that exists only in the fantasy world in-habited by such as the aforesaid dissenters, an idea which has been, and continues to be, fostered by our disobedient hierarchy.

RONALD J MACDONALD

Media Officer

Catholic Truth Newsletter

Stirling Drive

Bishopbriggs, Glasgow