Cardinal has right to speak for Catholics

The comments by Pat Rabbitte on RTE radio in relation to Cardinal Brady represent a flagrant abuse of the correct concept of separation of Church & State.

It was a bit like listening to an old-style Soviet aparatchik making an announcement on state-controlled radio, that the party line must be adhered to.

Thankfully the Soviet Empire has collapsed and Cardinal Brady is perfectly entitled to articulate the Church’s teaching on important aspects of social policy. Indeed as Cardinal, he is obliged to do so.