A man who led his country into an unnecessary and unpopular war in Iraq, which has had the consequence of almost obliterating the Christian faith in that country, is no great catch.

The Roman Catholic Church is a medieval-minded denomination headed by a religious dictator.

Much of its teaching on morality is antediluvian. No one with a truly free, open and inquiring mind could consciously choose to join it. There are many decent, Christian people in the Roman Catholic Church, but it is a deeply flawed institution.

Never let it be forgotten that the Roman Church is headquartered in a tiny state, called the Vatican.

Its Pope is a head of state, who aspires to influence world affairs and he has interfered in the domestic affairs of many countries. In my own land, the Roman Catholic Church flies the Vatican flag, alongside our own national flag, outside its places of worship, on special occasions, starkly illustrating divided loyalties.

The Roman Church makes the outrageous claim that it is the one true Church. Christian people in other denominations must never cease to refute that claim.

I travelled to Rome and received the blessing of John Paul II. I can accept that there is much that is good and true in the Roman Church, in spite of its errors. I have no problem in attending Mass and worshipping with fellow Christians of that tradition. At the same time, as a conscientious Protestant, I cannot and will not stand idly by and allow the errors of Rome to go unchallenged.



REV DAVID FRAZER Laytown, Co Meath