Madam, - Susan Philips (Rite and Reason, November 3rd) cites "the authority of Scripture" as a reason to condemn homosexual behaviour.
But she fails to cite the relevant passages from Scripture: they come entirely from the Old Testament (such as Leviticus 18:22) and from St Paul (such as Romans 1: 25-27).
These passages address specific cultural situations; as Robert M. Friday writes, "The contemporary question of homosexual acts between consenting adults in loving relationships was neither the question nor the context address in the scriptural passages traditionally noted in discussions about the morality of homosexual behaviour".
More tellingly still, there is no mention of the topic of homosexuality in the four Gospels, so that Christ said nothing at all about this topic. The world would be a better place if the "Christian" churches could bring themselves to follow the example of their founder. - Yours, etc.,
BRIAN ARKINS, Associate Professor of Classics, NUI, Galway.
Madam, - Your Editorial "A turning point for Anglicans" (November 5th) refers inter alia to the "prophetic wisdom" of the decision to ordain women to the (Anglican) priesthood and episcopates now being "accepted throughout the Anglican Communion".
Be that as it may, there can be little doubt that it has set back the ecumenical movement by Heaven knows how long.
At the end of the day, is this really what the Anglican Communion as a whole in fact wants? - Yours, etc.,
BRENDA O'HANRAHAN, Park Lane, Sandymount, Dublin 4.