THE picture on page three of the Catholic Herald 22 January issue of your paper of a gathering of Royal Air Force chaplains illustrates the profoundly compromised status of these (doubtless wellintentioned) individuals.
Each one of them wears a stole emblazoned with RAF crests on their lower portions. Some (though not apparently the two Catholic priests) even wear military awards on their liturgical apparel.
How can men showing so unambiguously where their loyalties lie be true presbyters in their chosen community, offering probetic leadership, counsel and seccour to men and women who nay receive at a moment's notee orders to carry out acts of mass dtstruction, actions whichffy in the face of all Christianorincbles, never mind the casistry ef the "just war theory"?
Incidentally, thestoles are also a liturgi:al ahmination and ought tole teamed on that basis alooe.lf dearation is needed, boy about another image of deal thecross or another type f birdthe dove of peace?
Fr fob Esdaile Guildford, Surrey