SIR,—The members of the Newman Association, the bulk of whom
are graduates, share only two things in common: their Roman Catholic faith and their willingness to take seriously the intellectual commit- ment which this involves. If the association existed for no higher purpose than to allow cultured Roman Catholics to sip sherry in congenial surroundings it'would no doubt show a bland and tranquil face to the world untroubled by suggestions that it supported any point of view at all. Since the association has chosen to take seriously the issues which face the Roman Catholic Church in the world today, to en- gage itself, in its various circles and sub-groups, in an attempt to hear all points of view and to avoid easy and premature solutions, it must also face the, consequences of that commitment in heated argu- ment. controversy and at times intemperate accusa- tions.
Different issues divide the members in different ways. whether it is birth control, ecumenism, liturgy - or politics, we cannot hope to find ready and perhaps facile consensus. The association exists to provide a forum for debate in which attitudes can be formed and that formation can prove a difficult, painful and even dangerous undertaking.
However, justice demands that points of view should not be attributed to persons who do not in fact lipids them. Miss Donnithorne (Letters. July 8) states that 'A leading Dominican Marxist edits the Association's journal and is director of its theological studies programme.' The reference is to Fr Laurence Bright, OP, who is not a Marxist although he does take seriously the recommendation of the Vatican Council Fathers (cf. Chur
the idea of "Catholic Marxism," among them being the Dominicans Laurence Bright, Herbert McCabe and Charles Boxer.' In our opinion these statements do not constitute evidence that Fr Bright is a Marxist and we deplore the way in which this material has been progressively twisted in a way which could damage the reputation both of the editor of our journal and of the Association. JOHN A. BRYDEN. President 15 Carlisle Street, London, W1
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