"Mrs Blair's own Church forbids the ordination of women, forbids women from using condoms even when their husband has been infected by HIV while working away, and denies the sacrament of communion to women who are divorced and remarried without an annulment, even when a woman's first marriage has broken down because of abandonment for a younger woman by their husband."
Bit of hypocrisy by Ms. Booth, isn't it?

Mohammed Khan, Makkah, Saudi Arabia

"Mrs Blair's own Church forbids the ordination of women, forbids women from using condoms even when their husband has been infected by HIV while working away, and denies the sacrament of communion to women who are divorced and remarried without an annulment, even when a woman's first marriage has broken down because of abandonment for a younger woman by their husband." The Catholic Church does not do any of those things.
The Church teaches that God limited the priesthood to men, that God forbids the use of condoms by men and women, and that God remarriage after divorce by men and women, regardless of the reason for the divorce or who sought it. If those were Church rules the Church would have the authority to change them, but because they came from God, the Church does not have that authority. In teaching these things the Church is fulfilling the command Jesus gave to the Apostles in Matthew 28:18-20

Martin Helgesen, Malverne, New York

I wonder why the author of this piece felt the need to add in a little good-old fashioned Catholic bashing. More evidence of scholar Phillip Jenkins' suggestion that the only "last acceptable form of prejudice" is against Roman Catholics.

As a point of reference--Catholic nuns are the only women who are veiled and that varies widely from order to order. Ordinary Catholic women are not required to wear such garments which is quite different from the prescriptions for veiling/covering the body suggested in Islamic scripture and tradition.

Krista, Crofton, Md

Tami, London,

are your comments directed at Ms Blair or the muslims who force religious dress on their womenfolk?

Martin, York, UK

Living among a muslim community, I see a variety (almost as many as there are people) of different dress codes. For instance my muslim neighbours from Pakistan never wear the veil but are quite devout. Then there is the woman who is always immaculately turned out, head to toe in black, with a niqab (clearly quite expensive too) who is regularly seen out and about with her children (but no male relative escort). I don't think she is coerced into wearing it, not the way she holds her head high and proud and by her body language. Clearly there is a reaction to the pressure muslims feel under and some seek to affirm their own identity.
Its a complex issue but I would hope that one day all muslim women will understand it for the sexually repressive symbol that it really is. However education is the only answer, people must be free to wear what they choose .

Bill, Glasgow,

With the exception of female ordination, the restrictions in the paragraph beginning "Mrs Blair's own Church forbids ..", applies equally to both Catholic men and women, yet the ever professional Ruth Gledhill spins it as if these restrictions applied to Catholic women only.

Leo, Birmingham, UK

This was obviously going to be a newsworthy story such is the status of Muslims in the media. But Ms Blair 's comment might well be construed as the pot calling the kettle black given Catholicisms position on a number of women's issues! Thank you to The Times for pointing this out, albeit in a round-about news-ish kind of way :-)

Yunus Yakoub Islam, Huddersfield,

The full veil is medieval .Attitudes about women and sex are appalling under both Islam and Catholicism. At least in the UK I feel it is possible to be critical of both.

Frances , Tunbridge Wells, UK

Frankly, I think Cherie Blair would look better in a veil.
Mouth gag wouldn't go amiss either.

B Wood, London,

I think that something should have been said about the church of england which does not allow women to be bishops nor can lesbian or gay people train to be priests and several bishops will not licence any gay person on their diocese which leaves trained, experienced chaplains with no livelyhood. Those who are in post can be left out of the social circles deliberately.

gillian donohue,, surrey, england

How about " a woman's right to wear what she chooses?"
How about " letting people decide what they want to wear and respecting it? "
How about "leaving other people alone and getting on with one's own life?"
- to mention just a few questions, there are many more!

Tarni, London, UK