The power of prayer
Sir: It is unlikely that Cardinal Hume will defend himself against Mr Waugh's charges (23 May). Before attacking him so fiercely Mr Waugh should, in fairness, have recalled that Dom Basil Hume was persuaded to accept the mitre against his own veiy strong inclination, and, doubtless against his own judgment of himself.
His spontaneous reaction proved that he is not vain. Weak? Well, remember the brutal pressures exerted by numerous experts and commissions, by people who want unity without authority, by people who want sacraments without commandments, by people who want religion as a mere decoration to their nationalism, by creditors, and by journalists whose easiest way to attention is to write something outrageous about prominent persons.
Mr Waugh's disgust with banal devotions and with failure to dissociate the Church from murder and suicide is shared by masses of inarticulate Catholics.
Mary Lynch St Joseph's Nursing Home, 15 Church Street, Edmonton, London N9
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