I don't know what the situation is in your country Emer but in this country the Catholic Church tries to influence Parliament on stem cell research, gay rights mercy killing and abortion. It is a legitimate subject for criticism.

David Gwilliam, Leicester, England

Dear Emer (Peru),
Problem with leaving you all to your "freedom" to believe is that you do not return the favour. Religion over the past ten years through Rome, Islam and US Christianity has affected and cost the lives of millions across the world. So sorry, we must continue to "care" for you.

Martyn, Bournemouth, UK

Is it true that the Vatican investigation into the relics of Jesus's mother, Mary, was suddenly terminated after the Papal Bull on her ascension bodily to Heaven, and the investigator was never heard of again? By Papal definition, if her body went directly to Heaven, there couldn't be any relics.

Bill Peter, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

I hear that there is a problem at pergatory, a credit crunch, though things are moving along again. Perhaps the acidity of the soil needs testing, or the preserving balm needs updating!

Is is easy to fall in love with the dead, for they shall not answer or wane, better to worry about the living

Roger, Gloucester, Glos

Please if you aren't Catholic why should you care? Haven't you got something more fullfilling and interesting to do with your time, energy and "intellect" than pick holes in other peoples faith? If you choose not to belive, that is your right, please leave us our freedom to believe. Thank you.

Emer McCarthy, Lima, Peru

If he was ever in the grave there must be some remains no matter how small Go and have another look

jim, edinburgh, uk

While we are on the subject of corpses gone missing can anyone verify what I heard in a college lecture about Henry VIII not being in his grave either? The prof speculated that his own daughter Bloody Mary had him exhumed one dark night at Windsor and burned (rather after the fact) as a heretic.

Larry Seman, Broadview Heights, Ohio, USA

The usual British anti-Catholic bilge. I listened to it constantly as a kid from my English and Welsh relations who never tired of expressing their contempt for Catholics and anyone not like them. Such a lovely tradition from the old country! Yes, indeed,
PC Britain, time to grow up.

Stephen Naas, Marshall, Michigan, USA

I am thoroughly refreshed after reading this superbly written and insightful piece.

Spot on!

Des, Edinburgh,

I'm a former Catholic thanks God. It's unbiblical from Catholic Church to demand miracle from corpses to decrete them saints for a simple reason: God knows who are His saints, He does not need either miracles nor proofs. He chooses His saints before they are born. It's just to read the Bible!

Evelin Olívia Fróes, Curitiba, Brazil

The use of the term "the church" seems misleading (and wrong). It implies "the Christian church” whereas you are writing about the beliefs of, probably, quite a small subset of the Catholic church. Perhaps the ambiguity was intentional; to write an article mocking the church must be easy money.

Paul, Nottingham,

It's all a bit dodgy but, really, looking at these comments I wonder when is this country going to get over its chronic anti-Catholicism and just move on. Time to grow-up England! The most painfully pc country on Earth - except when it comes to Catholics or the Irish (and preferably both). Move on

Chris Flynn, London, UK

The whole notion of Man deciding who God should be promoting up the league table is laughable, even without the morbid fascination with corpses and body parts. It has nothing whatsoever to do with Christ's teachings and everything to do with temporal power and the exploitation of the faithful.

Pauline, Kingston upon Thames,

I thought this whole tacky business was a disgrace. And shame on those who allowed it to happen. It was just beyond belief. The poor man should have been allowed to rest in peace - not been dug up by the grave robbers of the Catholic Church.

Paul, Birmingham,

Does it not rather make a mockery of the "Body being an earthly Vessel" ??
That the soul is the thing that enters Heaven?

I really wish they would make their minds up.

Carrie, London,

Perhaps she should witness the tomb of St. Bernadette whose sanctity is a testimony to modern man who says there is no God.

Kathleen, Portland, USA

Libby Purves as a lapsed Catholic knows the difficulties faced by those of us who try their best to follow a faith that is so out of touch with the modern world. Of course it is macabre to dig up bodies and also to demand miracles too! Many Catholics today are no longer quite so gullible!

Tony , Norwich, UK

Has it not occurred to the exhumers that the body of Cardinal Newman might have been placed in the grave of his beloved friend, Fr Ambrose St John?

Francis Pimentel-Pinto, Hook, Hampshire,RG27 9ND

You didn't mention the 700 plus years old embalmed body of St. Zita, kept in a glass casket in the beautiful Church of San Frediano in Lucca, Tuscany. On show everyday for the gawpers and tourists. Now, you too can get up close and personal with a real saint. She is an amazing sight - sound asleep.

Dr. Jimmy, Nottingham, England

Actually, Libby, I was present when the announcement was made on Saturday at Littlemore (didn't see you there, by the way), and there was no sulking. There was simply a most moving statement by the Provost of Birmingham Oratory. And he was clearly relieved at the outcome, as were we all.

Jane, Birmingham,

"ghoulish sideshow"? Is not that a perfect description of a religion whose icon is a God dying on a cross? A God whose resurrected body and blood become the bread and wine of the Eucharist? How can human love have value in this airless, sunless and macabre setting?

Kevin Straw, Leicester,

Hmmm... and when I saw the headline on the BBC website about Newman's exhumation and the grave being empty, I thought - where's he gone? It's a bit soon to be digging Paul up already?

Cardinal Newman? Saints? Zzzzzzzzzz........ who cares?

Alex, Shropshire, uk

The brilliance of Cardinal John Henry Newman lives on, blessed be he!
So after all he has his wish to be buried with his friend Fr. Ambrose St. John, It appears no one will distrub his rest after all.
Didnt he catch them out a beauty!

Rose Keating, Rocky Mountain House, Canada

This is silly ... and superstitious. I think this unburial is really just standard procedure in cases like this ... for example in the case of Padre Pio.

So, no one is too ''sophisticated'', too ''modern'' to be with Christ, and to think otherwise would be a manifestation of media-savvy pride.

Alexander, Montreal,

Silently no doubt in this case, but the correct quotation is 'He had softly and *suddenly* vanished away'. All is not lost when columnists still have enough of this marvellous poem in the backs of their minds to quote it, albeit with a minor error.

James, Hong Kong, China