Sir, - One does not require any great insight into theology to appreciate that there are very important issues at stake in the current controversy. These focus on the need for a common faith in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist and on the necessity of valid ordination for the minister.
Perhaps our President decided to prescind from those matters of doctrine and simply see the gesture of intercommunion as a symbol of the will for unity, a bridgebuilding gesture between the still separated Christian communities. On those terms it would fall into a context similar to that of her action in lighting a candle on the Menorah, in a rite which marks the start of the Jewish New Year festival of Hanukkah.
Without conceding that any individual church members is entitled to prescind from basic concerns of faith and pastoral practice, let us examine this lowercase religious position on its merits. Here St Paul makes a relevant point when it comes to following conscience on the basis of personal conviction without taking due account of how others, unaware of your mind and motive, will read your action. The context was where the ordinary run of people in Corinth would not eat certain foods because of religious scruples. "Take care," he says, "lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak .. . and so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus in sinning against your brother and wounding his conscience when weak you sin against Christ" (I Corinthians 8:9-11).
The context may not be the parallel of our present situation, but the principle still holds good. - Yours, etc.,
Mallow, Co Cork.