AS a Roman Catholic priest, the question of the ordination of women to the priesthood and to the office of bishop is not on the agenda.

But I feel the popular press is speaking from ignorance when it keeps going on about the decision in the Church of England not to ordain women priests as bishops, as the church being out of touch with the modern world.

The secular world is in crisis with itself and has no right to call the tune, when it comes to something like the way the Church orders its ministry.

This is not just about gender, it’s about gender and theology; and gender and Scripture; and gender and the founder of Christianity whom the Church claims to be the Son of God.

The secular age at its worst wants to do away with religion altogether and drive the stake of secularity into the heart of religion.

The Church of England need not be too anxious about “buddying up” to a secular society.

None of us must be tempted to adjust our theology just to seem relevant and to appear to connect where life seems to be at any questionable moment.

Theologians and clergy in particular need to be wary of misreading the cultural times which sometimes gets it wrong with their secular ideal of inclusiveness.

Fr John Michael Hanvey, Blackburn.