Catholic bishops have poor record on marriage

Your report (Irish Examiner, April 3) headlined Christians “often suffer ridicule or persecution” because of their beliefs on marriage, and attributed to Archbishop Eamon Martin, is only half-true.

As a faith organisation we agree with Archbishop Martin that “Christian convictions can bring upon us ridicule” but we understand why this can be so.

The track record of pronouncements on marriage by Irish Catholic bishops has been lamentable – opposing mixed Catholic-Protestant couples, refusing Holy Communion to divorced couples, condemning the use of contraception by married couples, denying the love of same-sex couples.