Letter: The Omagh legacy

Alan Pavelin
Tuesday 18 August 1998 23:02 BST
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Sir: Leo Stevenson's assertion (letter, 17 August) that the Pope does not unreservedly condemn the Omagh bombing is breathtaking. His suggestion that the bombers are perusing the Pope's speeches to see if there is any condemnation, and to take comfort if there is not, is truly bizarre.

For years the Irish bishops have made their condemnation of all politically motivated murders crystal-clear, and it is utterly fanciful to suggest that the Pope diverges from this view.

Mr Stevenson also makes the mistake of assuming that the motivating force of militant Republicans is Catholicism, and that they might therefore be influenced by what the Pope says. Catholicism may be their nominal church allegiance, but Republicanism is their religion.

ALAN PAVELIN

Chislehurst, Kent

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