Mary McAleese has put her finger on the spot (“Flawed defenders of the unborn”, 13 February). The Catechism has generated confusion and unnecessary anguish surrounding the death by whatever means of unbaptised children, when it states “… the Church can only entrust them to the mercy of God”. God is merciful, we know. But such children will have done nothing to need mercy, since there will be no sin to forgive.

Surely in this context, the Catechism should refer to God’s love. If each of us from our beginning is God’s gift of love, it is that love with which God will embrace such children. A humble Church would say we “can joyfully entrust them to God’s love”.