From C R A Cunliffe Sir, Joanne Bogle says (article, July 23rd) that Cardinal Hume "removed the entry for the homosexual organisation Quest from the Catholic Directory last year" and that he did so "simply because its aims are not compatible with Catholic teaching". On both counts, Mrs Bogle misrepresents the Cardinal's position on the suspension (not removal) of Quest's entry as a Catholic society.
No such simple incompatibility of Quest's aims with Catholic teaching is among the reasons given for Quest's temporary suspension, and the decision was that of the bishops' conference in *hose name the directory is published.
Cardinal Hume's valuable dialogue over more than 20 years with Quest was undertaken in his capacity as a bishop, and not as president of the bishop's conference. With the decision taken, communication is now through the conference secretariat and not, as formerly, with any direct involvement of the public affairs' office at Archbishop's House, Westminster.
As a member of Quest's committee and having had much responsibility for its liason with the ecclesiastical authorities, I know that many bishops remain, as the cardinal himself did, and that without prejudice to official teaching on homosexual acts, well appreciative of many aspects of Quest's pastorally positive work for homosexual people. Cardinal Hume's "hope and pray[er]" for Quest soon to "be restored to the directory" is shared by the bishops' conference itself, and discussions continue to that end.
Yours faithfully, C R A CUNLIFFE, Chair of Quest, 1993 -1996 St Bees, Cumbria