Presidential blunder

RYLE DWYER states (January 8) that Archbishop Desmond Connell “denounced” President McAleese because she “had the guts to attend a Protestant service”.

Mr Dwyer should re-read his own column of January 17, 2009, where he points out that the issue was the President’s receiving Holy Communion, not her being present.

It could be argued that she used the office of president and the occasion to inappropriately express a private theological opinion, a rare lapse in her outstanding record.

One report at the time noted a priest of the Church of Ireland as saying that the President had made it more difficult for the Anglicans to invite her again.

Fr Seán Coyle

Philippines