LETTER: Papal fallibility

Sir: Colin Jeffrey (letter, 9 February) would seem not to have had much contact with Catholics.

The Catholic church, like every other major religion, political and financial institution, has been hijacked by a group of power-hungry, controlling men, whose dictates and opinions are largely irrelevant to the majority of the organisation's coherents. The Pope is not our ruler: I am ruled by my conscience, and guided by my church, and then only on very distinct principles.

Of course the Pope should retire, as Mr Jeffrey suggests, but he has packed the College of Cardinals so effectively with his clones that any successor is unlikely to make much of a difference.

JOSEPHINE FENTON

Frodsham, Cheshire