Madam, - In response to the article by Denise Charlton and Paula Fagan on the problems of lesbian parents (Feb 25th), Patricia Casey, professor of psychiatry at the Mater Hospital, argues (March 3rd) that, according to "overwhelming evidence", a child should have a mother and a father.
Although she confusingly cites the successful rearing of children by female relatives as a reason not to advance "special treatment" to gay couples, she seems to be suggesting in this instance that lesbians inhabit some kind of bizarre, man-free zone.
Nowhere in Charlton's and Fagan's article did they suggest that their son doesn't or wouldn't have access to his biological father or to his uncles, grandfathers, nephews, cousins or, indeed, a general balance of male relatives. (I understand that gay people have families too.)
Neither did they suggest they intended to bring up their child in an exclusively female environment; rather they simply argued to be afforded the same legal rights as any other committed married couple (or indeed blood relatives for that matter).
I am surprised and concerned that someone of Prof Casey's stature and position should harbour such thinly disguised prejudices. Is it possible that she is the kind of psychiatrist who still believes in a cure for homosexuality? - Yours, etc,
MICHELLE READ,
Southgate,
Cork Street,
Dublin 8.
A chara,- The recent vitriolic letters received by you on this topic just show that our so-called Christian values of charity, compassion and respect for our fellow man seem to fly out the window when discussing same-sex marriage.
It should be viewed simply as a basic human right for every citizen of Ireland and those who oppose it are not compelled to avail of it! - Mise le meas,
JOHN XAVIER LONG,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 14.