Letter: Married priests or faith by restrictions?

Sir: It now appears that even Cardinal Ratzinger may be able to welcome the new wave of married Anglican clergy (opposed to women priests) within the Roman Catholic church ('Married priests 'no problem to Vatican',' 27 November). As a Roman Catholic, I could find grounds to rejoice about this if I felt that the consequence might be a greater move towards the Vatican's acceptance of Roman Catholic priests who wish to marry. The potential outcome for the deepening of our collective spiritual awareness, and for the worldwide growth of the church's mission, would indeed be great.

All the more so if the Catholic church itself could welcome women into the ordained ministry. But there is the catch. Instead, we are faced with a defensive alliance between the Anglicans who oppose women priests and the group of Catholics who, presumably, do the same. The observation that some Catholics appear to have a faith that is given meaning only by restrictions and our heritage of motivation by guilt in sexual matters saddens me beyond belief.

Yours sincerely,

GERALYN COLLINS

Woolhampton, Berkshire

27 November