From Brendan Butler

YOUR article headlined 'Is there any place in Benedict's church for the poor and the political?' (News, 13 May) describes the pope's trenchant animosity to liberation theology, especially while head of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctine and the Faith.

This was a thriving church movement in which Christians were doers of justice who applied the Biblical revelation to their lives to bring about a kingdom of justice on this earth.

Indeed it was an antithesis to the traditional preaching where Christians were told to endure the injustices of this world so as to have "pie in the sky" when you die. It led to many hundreds of thousands of men and women inspired by the Gospel to be brutally tortured and killed by the many US-supported dictatorships of Latin America. These modern-day martyrs, the most outstanding of whom was Archbishop Romero of El Salvador, have not been acknowledged as saints by Pope Benedict. Instead, he continues to canonise clergy, who while good people, did not challenge the unjust structures of their societies.

In his address to the Latin American Bishops' Conference before he left Brazil, Pope Benedict criticised the new popular leaders of Venezuela and Bolivia as "autocratic".

At least they have been democratically elected and it is to these newly emergent Latin American leaders resisting US influence and inspired by liberation theology who will hopefully bring about a more just society.

Brendan Butler, 45 The Moorings, Malahide, Co Dublin

Bertie should follow Blair's example
From Gavin Smith Gavin Smith, Riverwood Green, Castleknock, Dublin 15

Voting can make a real difference From Maria O'Brien Maria O'Brien Castleknock Avenue Castleknock Dublin 15

IN HIS resignation speech last week, Tony Blair said: "I have been prime minister of this country for just over 10 years.

In this job, in the world today, that is long enough, for me but more especially for the country. Sometimes the only way you conquer the pull of power is to set it down."

Yet here in Ireland, Bertie Ahern is selfishly looking for 15 years! In the US, the president only gets eight years, and for very good reason.

Ireland needs and deserves a fresh leader.

I BELIEVE the onus is on each and every voter to put into Dail Eireann, regardless of which party they represent, those who can make a real difference on a national level for the sake of everyone. Local councillors are supposedly elected to take care of local issues. And if they don't then what on earth are we paying them for?

I was so angry when I saw that Alan Shatter had lost his seat in the last election by 200 votes. He published more legislation in the form of Private Members Bills from the opposition side of the Dail than any other deputy elected to Dail Eireann in the history of the state. Although I do not share his personal stand on the Palestine/Israel issue, I do, however, share his passion for making a positive difference to the lives of children and families. As someone who has suffered badly from the effects of passive smoke I thank him for his tireless work in securing the legislation for the ban on smoking on the workplace and for introducing the Tobacco (Health Promotion and Protection) (Amendment) Bill, 1999.

It's high time people stopped complaining about the political climate and started doing something to make a positive difference. If you believe that the wrong people are taking up seats in Dail Eireann then get out and vote. If you don't vote, then you have no right to complain about any political system. I've heard people say "my one vote won't make a difference". Wrong! Multiply that action a thousand-fold and more and it makes a very big difference indeed. Be the one that makes a real difference!

Rhythm and rhyme and more besides From Wm C Love OWED BY A POLITICIAN I'm beggar boy Bertie the bum I 'borreed' few grand from a chum Forgot to repay it?

Well dat's how I say it!

For my party dats merely hum drum!

To my 'kinda good friend' Micheal Wall A few grand is nothing but small So he gave it to Celia My erstwhile Ophelia Else Miriam just might get it all!

For d'election, Bill Clinton's my setter (He'll handle the wimin' much better! ) And while Cowen may smile At smooth Tony's style Big Ian is out of the fetter!

I talked to MPs and de Peers In big words like 'ethereal spheres' That Mansergh had taught me to master (Not used by poor Paddy the plasterer While downing de Bass and de beers! ) EPILOGUE An excellent Westminster address To Brits seemed a mark-ed success But for Bertie and Fianna Fail The prize is to rule in the Dail And the Irish electors impress!

Wm C Love Westminster Road, Foxrock, D 18

M3 critics need to reroute government From David Marlborough THE recent discovery, described by a former minister for the environment as "a hole in the ground", of an important archaeological find at Lismullen in the archaeological complex of the Tara/Skryne Valley, has refocused the minds of the populace on this issue. It's fitting that it's back in the media right slap bang in the middle of the time those responsible for the debacle are seeking re-election.

Along with other recently unearthed issues, the Tara/M3 decision shows clearly that the same greedy, grasping, peasant mentality long prevalent in these circles has an unfortunate tendency to come back and haunt those responsible.

In the case of the M3, those who opposed its routing from the start are now vindicated in having done so and in saying how easily predictable and preventable all this was.

However, the shortsighted wishes of vested interests prevailed and those living in the area are still denied, because of this, a road they could've easily been driving on by now.

As the election countdown now enters its final days, and given it's obvious that the current coalition, if re-elected, will not alter their own or the M3's course, and that the Greens and Labour have placed on record their intention to rethink the M3 route, it's therefore obvious what voters concerned about the safeguarding and preservation of our unique heritage have to do.

David Marlborough 103 Kenilworth Park Dublin 6w

From Sonia Ni Murchu The Tara/Skryne Valley is still in imminent danger of being destroyed forever! Is there no newspaper willing to make an issue of the fact that the present government is willing to destroy one of the most ancient and most important heritage sites in the world? A structure that is older than the Pyramids of Egypt; The ancient seat of the High Kings of Ireland; This is our history, our heritage; No other country would consider such an appalling act of desecration!

How could the people of Ireland allow such a sacred place to be defiled? Is there any patriotic Irish people left that are proud of their very own and unique heritage?

Tara was the focus for Irish independence from the British Empire, the armed rebellion of 1798, and again in 1843 when there was a huge political demonstration of one million people. Tara was the place where St Patrick first converted the Irish High King of Ireland to Christianity. Does this mean nothing to the people of Ireland today?

As Michael Slavin said in his book, The Book of Tara: "Tara is a timeless sacred place which cannot be claimed by any one religion, but is instead a sanctuary for all. . . . For so long as Ireland lasts, Tara will always carry a spiritual message."

The people of Ireland have to look into their past and also to their future, we have to band together and save this most sacred of places.

In the words of W B Yeats in a letter of protest to The Times, 27 June 1902, when Tara was last threatened: "Tara is, because of its associations, probably the most consecrated spot in Ireland, and its destruction will leave many bitter memories behind it."

The Labour Party, The Green Party and Sinn Fein have each issued written commitments to reroute the contentious sections of the M3 Motorway between Dunshaughlin and Navan. Why vote for a government that is willing to strip us of our natural heritage for reasons of utility or convenience?

Other transport alternatives are available. Please, Irish patriots, save our heritage!

Sonia Ni Murchu duskeire@eircom. net