Sir, - The disunity of the churches is a scandal. Jesus's invitation to the agape (the love feast) - now the Eucharist, Holy Communion or Mass - applied to everyone who sought to follow him. No exception. At the Last Supper, Jesus "sat down with the Twelve", including Judas Iscariot. He said, "Drink this, all of you." He did not exclude Judas. Judas excluded himself. As Jesus said, "He that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."
What on earth was Archbishop Connell thinking about when he wrote: "You cannot at the same time celebrate the Eucharist professing that Apostolic faith, as we would maintain it, and professing a faith that is other than the Apostolic faith, that is incompatible with it." To receive Holy Communion is an expression of faith in Christ; no-one has the authority to prevent anyone from expressing it, from going to the Lord's Supper.
In the North, a girl once knelt down at the Holy Communion rails next to a young man who had killed her brother in "the Troubles". No-one can judge what is in the heart of another person, except God. - Yours, etc.,
Stillorgan, Co Dublin.