It was kind and very wise of Bishop Kieran Conry (News from Britain and Ireland, 20 September) to remind us all of the positive “contribution” little children make during every Sunday Mass. During my many years as a parish priest I developed a disarming and non-confrontational pastoral strategy for putting the parents of squalling children at their ease and, hopefully, deflecting the negative reaction of their critics. Near the end of the short but precious period of prayerful silence following Holy Communion, and using an amplified stage whisper, I would say, “Listen everyone. What do you hear? All that wailing, gurgling, whimpering, giggling and chattering is the most important and most welcome sound in any church. It proclaims very eloquently that we have a future.&rd