Madeleine Bunting (How long can we hang on to a morally bankrupt church?, 22 May) was thought-provoking and sensible. I write as a practising Catholic who feels the church has lost its way. I am in my mid-40s and becoming a rare breed at mass. The church is still a patriarchal dinosaur. There are many good and decent members of the clergy, but there are still too many people who feel they have to defer to and obey the clergy, and many members of the clergy who thrive on this fact. While this is the case nothing will change.

The horror of the Irish abuse scandal for me is only the tip of the iceberg. It is time for all Catholics, young and old, to speak out about issues which affect them and the society we live in, such as abuse, contraception, same-sex relationships, stem cell research etc. Talking about things without fear of hell and damnation and the wrath of the clergy will hopefully stimulate healthy debate and positive moves forward. If not, I'm fearful the church will wither - which would be a shame, because in many parishes there is great work going on to help the poor and the oppressed. And isn't that what being a Christian is all about?

Clare McCarthy

Formby, Lancashire

Like Madeleine Bunting, I am clinging on with my fingernails. One reason I remain is because I made a promise when my children were baptised that I would raise them as Catholics, and I want to fulfil that promise. We attend mass every Sunday and belong to a vibrant community whose members come from many different countries. We have a good parish priest who leads our community with gentleness and humility. Another reason I still belong is because I love hearing the language of scripture, the music and singing at mass and I enjoy meeting and talking with my friends afterwards. They are my community. We rarely talk about the pope, the Vatican or even our local bishop. That's probably why I still remain - because belonging to the church isn't just about clergy in faraway places. It's about those who share our faith and our lives.

Josephine Feeney

Leicester

It must be tough to be Catholic at the moment, but I have a solution. If you must believe in an imaginary friend (or god, if you prefer), why not opt to worship him/her/it from the comfort of your own home in the manner of your choosing. Or do you require all that rigmarole and ceremony to give your faith meaning? Do the religious believe in god, or do they "believe" in the ritual, togetherness and sense of community. If it's the latter, perhaps they could join a choir, football club or gardening group and avoid all the pain, hatred and intolerance religions routinely inflict on others.

Joanne Columbine

Bury, Lancashire