Sir, - Brian McHugh (May 24th) signs off with his "last, word" on the subject by stating: "liberally using quotations from the Gospels to prove the accuracy of the same Gospels is akin to a person attempting to pay their monthly Visa account with their Visa card."
(1) Since I do not have a monthly Visa account or a Visa credit card, I find it difficult to understand the relevance of this superficial analogy.
(2) Theologically, Mr McHugh seems to be unaware of the traditional teaching of the church. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "As a result the church to whom the transmission and interpretation of revelation is entrusted, does not derive her certainty about all revealed truths from the Holy Scripture alone. Both Scripture and tradition must be accepted and honoured with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence." (p25.)
(3)Sacred tradition and sacred Scripture are bound closely together, and communicate one with the other. Sacred tradition can substantiate the "accuracy" of the Gospels. The traditional teaching of the church for 2,000 years is that Christ has risen from the dead and is alive. That for me is 2,000 years of "historical factual evidence". And that is my last word in this debate. - Yours, etc.,
Glenstal Abbey,
Murroe,
Co Limerick.