Penelope Hooker's letter in your issue of September 27 has provoked me, somewhat belatedly, into complaining about the misrepresentation of Fr John Harriott's account of the UN Population Conference reported in the Catholic Herald of September 20. I also attended the CUR meeting at which Fr Harriott entertained us with a caricature of the American family planning lobby. This was one brief point in a serious assessment of the conference and it was clear to us all (except, it would appear, to your correspondent) that this was a satirical account of the activities and aspirations of the American generals who crusade so fervently in favour of dramatically reduced birth rates in the poorer countries.
For anyone who wants an accurate account of Fr Harriott's views on the UN conference it would be fairer to refer them to his own articles in earlier editions of your papers.
(Sr) Breda Noonan, SSC Social Worker, Philippine Islands Missionary Sisters of St.
Colomban, 16 Portland Rise, London, N4.