Priests know as much as anyone about marriage

JOE MASSEY wonders how Fr Aidan McGing “could possibly provide any personal insight into what is required for a successful marriage” and how he could have any insight into the sexual viewpoints of both partners (July 27).

Irrespective of whether you agree with Fr McGing’s arguments, it is presumptuous to assume a priest cannot know anything about sexual relations.

Some people seem to think priests came out of the womb ready-dressed in a cassock, and never stop to think that person might have had relations with the opposite sex before becoming a priest (which may or may not be the case).

It also seems to imply that for such people, marriage is mainly about sex. What of all the other aspects of human nature that come into play in marriage? Are priests completely ignorant of human relations and feelings?

Through their training as counsellors and their exposure to the idiosyncrasies of marriage through the confessions of the married, priests are in as good a position to speak about marriage as anyone else.

Priests are also functionaries of a religion and have a duty to put forward the position of that religion in relation to all aspects of life, including sexual relations.

Nick Folley

36 Ardcarrig

Carrigaline

Co Cork