My eye was drawn to the headline “It is the sort of thing that could happen to any man” above Christopher Howse’s Presswatch (18 March). “Any man” was former Bishop Eamonn Casey who died on 13 March.

In 1992 we learned he had fathered a son years before and had seemingly tried to persuade his lover to have the baby adopted. She had refused, he had contributed financially to the boy’s upbringing, but otherwise it seems he had no relationship with his son.

It is way past time for the Catholic Church to promote optional celibacy and for those who have taken a vow of celibacy either to live by it, or if they cannot, to be transparent with their parishioners and bosses, acknowledge the joys and
personal fidelity of sexual and family relationships and have a mature attitude to their responsibilities as sexual partners and parents.