THE article by Patricia McKeever (Challenge to the separate schools system, May 30) was rather confusing. I have not worked as a teacher but in the course of my last job I have visited some 20 different Roman Catholic secondary schools and have found that the ''Catholic ethos'' is alive and well in all of them.
As for her comment regarding the ''extinction of the Catholic faith in Scotland'' I can only assume that this is wishful thinking on her part. My idea of a living Catholicism is in witnessing to Christ.
Every day, someone somewhere receives a visit and help from those unsung volunteers in the Society of St Vincent de Paul - that is living Catholicism. Evangelisation takes place every week from the tireless workers of the Legion of Mary - that is living Catholicism. Every year at this time thousands of children make their first Holy Communion which involves a partnership between clergy, school, and parents - that too is living Catholicism. The Justice and Peace Commission are continually speaking out against the injustices in our country and the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund are continually raising funds for the developing countries and raising awareness of their plight with the Scottish public - this is also living Catholicism.
The Catholic faith is far from being extinct in Scotland; the above list is far from being exhausted.
As far as I can see the problem is the separation of faith from life. The promotion of individualism has done much to harm our society. The eagerness to achieve instant gratification and the throw-away-what-is-useless mentality contributes greatly to the moral malaise.
When the Church stands up against these philosophies it finds itself attacked from not only the secular society but also from within its own members. They cannot accept the teaching of the Church because they have accepted the secularisation of their way of life.
George Ferguson,
125 Juniper Avenue,
Greenhills, East Kilbride. June 1.
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