Taking dim view

John Stoer's disparaging description of "Ladybird" religion/Catholicism, in favour of his imagined more enlightened version which seeks to "challenge the received wisdom of Catholics" (your report, 22 February), was brazen in the extreme.

Since John Stoer is headmaster of a Catholic school, he should know that what he refers to as "received wisdom" is, in fact, divinely revealed truths entrusted by Christ to His Church. If Mr Stoer no longer believes that essential Catholic truth, then he ought to do the decent thing and resign.

Indeed, the claim that the Gonzaga Lectures are "to challenge the views of parents and grandparents about the Catholic world" confirms what we already know about St Aloysius and, indeed, Catholic schools in general: they are no longer about passing on the Catholic faith but about challenging doctrine.

And don't get the idea that the Gonzaga Lectures provide a platform to learn about the Church. Far from it. I was literally thrown out and told not to return to the Gonzaga Lectures some years ago, for the crime of, politely, during the question and answer session, asking a dissenting nun-speaker if she could explain some of her statements which appeared to contradict Catholic doctrine. With a mocking "Write to Rome", the deputy head threw me out with the very non-inclusive instruction never to return.

PATRICIA MCKEEVER

Editor, Catholic Truth

www.catholictruthscotland.com