It’s surely not surprising that seven out of ten American Catholics shy away from a literal understanding of the eucharistic presence (“Beyond the politics of Communion”, 26 June), based on the rather weird and quite unscientific medieval distinction between “substance” and “accidents”. But it’s sad that they reportedly settle for an understanding of the eucharistic elements as merely symbolic.

There are far more compelling approaches such as those of the Orthodox and Anglo-Catholics, who revere eucharistic reception as a mystical encounter with the Spirit of the Risen Christ that resists facile philosophical explanation. If ever there were a Roman Catholic doctrine that needs rethinking and reformulation!

(Dr) Timothy J. Macnaught
Canberra, Australia