Sir, – I read with interest Patsy McGarry’s article (“Record number of people convert to Catholicism in Archdiocese of Dublin”, Home News, February 24th)
The number of converts is indeed worth noting and I am quite sure that a similarly prominent article on the numbers defecting from the church would be published, should that be possible!
Laborious procedures did exist but in 2011 a change in church law meant that defections would no longer be recognised. The article says many converted from other religions or no religion. Unfortunately, the reverse is not permitted.
I assume many of the record number of converts to the faith are adults. Most Catholics in Ireland are baptised close to birth, with no option given to those children once adults to choose to leave.
RM Block
A one-way revolving door does not seem to me to be fair. – Yours, etc,
SORCHA NÍ LEANNÁIN,
Shankill,
Dublin 18.
