AS ONE who was baptised livithin the Catholic Church. and

a member of an old Lancashire Catholic family, but brought up an Anglican. I deplore the Vatican ban on Catholics to join the Masons. The Catholic Church is turning the clock back. and looking at things generally through the wrong end of a telescope. I am glad I am an Anglican. The Catholic Church should be honest and take a good look at itself. Freemasons have brought men of all creeds. classes and colour into a legal brotherhood. something the Church has been trying to do for the past 2,000 years and has failed to do.
Leeds William G Whalley I AM A Catholic Governor of a state special school. It is a very caring, child-centred school and would be unhappy about and perhaps resent the implication that state schools of any description are all thought of as secular sinks of anti-Christ. Integration for the mentally or physically handicapped is not often in the child's interests; resources for normal children are being reduced in a most damaging way so how can "normal" schools be expected to cater for the needs of special children? Far better that committed Catholics should opt to teach in state schools and so help to "put Christ back into education" alongside committed Christians of all other denominations.
Birmingham Eileen M Faux
REGARDING "Fish or fowl on Friday" surely the whole point of any penance is discipline and obedience. In view of the oh-sofrail character of human nature, it is crazy to leave it to us what or what not to do.
Mrs Christine M. Cripps Newhaven East Sussex
I WAS surprised to read Mr Glynn, Nov 4, stating that there is no movement for the eight plus age group in the Catholic Church. Having worked with many different groups of children I feel that the 'group' young children are happiest at belonging to is 'the Family' and surely that is where the seat of all learning should be . . that is the only 'group' that can accommodate all age groups.
Susan Girvan Northwood Middlesex
THE MASSIVE support for Mrs Gillick's parliamentary petition to restore parents' rights over their own children conceals a trap. We are in danger of thinking that Parliament is now bound to act, whereas our million signatures (Dr Vaughan's figure) could lie untouched for years to come.
Mrs Gilliek is asking her friends for a massive campaign of prayer up to and after her appeal in the High Court in early January. She is wisely following the example of the great social reformer, Josephine Butler, whose successful campaign against the white slave traffic was backed by untiring prayer.
Josephine's success made Victoria's campaign possible but that success has been undermined by systematic corruption of society through the media and of children through immoral laws and government departments.
Warrington Maurits Green IN DEFINING "Authority", Tim Beaumont, Dec 9, misquotes the Concise Oxford Dictionary. Mine (1976) reads "the power or right to enforce obedience". The distinction between "power" and "right" is extremely important — they can be held in one person or body or they can be mutually exclusive. And how can anyone v..ho has lived through the greater part of this century say, as he does. that "the idea of enforcing authority is virtually meaningless".
Claire Hourlhane Bournemouth
IF WE use nuclear weapons against any of God's people, either in attack or defence, then when we stand before God, we would be guilty of mass torture and murder. How can I free myself of' this guilt if I continue. a passive acceptance of government policy and continue to pay my taxes to buy these weapons?
Chris Clay Cleveland
HOW WELCOME are the recent letters concerning Mary's message, but why are we all so slow to take heed? What are Catholics in our country doing about it? As far as I can see, very little. Our Lady's message should be sweeping through the Church.
Donald Miller Somerset