I was not surprised to see that the Diocese of Lancaster did not submit parishioners’ views to the Bishops’ survey on marriage and family life (News from Britain and Ireland, 3 October). The reason is simple – we were not asked for our views. On checking with a number of priests I have discovered that nothing had ever been communicated to them from the diocese about a consultation exercise with their parishioners, nor had they been consulted. How can it be possible to discern the work of the Spirit in the life of the people of God, “to smell the sheep” in Pope Francis’ memorable phrase, if the starting point is a refusal to reconsider “traditional teaching” and to turn one’s nose away from the smell of the views of the faithful? &