Your story (News, 19 July) headlined “London Oratory school criticised for favouring white middle classes” confirms what those of us who have served in Catholic education in central and west London have long known and observed.The sad fact is that the national and international news media reporting of the discriminatory result of one Catholic school’s admissions practices undermines the witness and preferential option for the poor exercised by dioceses and governors of the vast majority of London’s Catholic schools. It is unfortunate that the London Oratory School continues to proclaim itself a Catholic school while repeatedly choosing to ignore the fair admission criteria demanded by diocesan authorities.Alan Whelan, Beaufort, Co. KerryMay I make a polite request