Fr Tomás Walsh (“Beers and detergent have no place at Requiem Mass”, 10 August) is correct. When such objects as bottles of beer and cigarette packets are made part of the Offertory Procession, it truly makes a mockery of the offerings of bread and wine.

However, there is a deeper issue about the way in which such liturgies are conducted. The Church through its dioceses has set out a number of guidelines to be applied in order to respect the solemnity of the liturgy. However, time and again, it appears such guidelines only apply to the “little people”.

At funerals of high-profile individuals from business, entertainment, or politics people can do most anything they want. At a recent funeral in Dublin, the music elements of the Requiem Mass seemed to be all about performance, and when it came to the eulogy, there was not just one short and appropriate one but at least five. At the funeral of a politician all of the deceased’s children came forward with their own eulogies.