Sir, — Recent correspondence in your letters pages (6 May) seems to suggest that only those who deny the apostolic succession to women may call themselves Catholic.
 As many as 40 years ago, I remember my father telling me severely that the words of the creeds emphasise that we Anglicans are Catholics, too.
 As churchwarden of a “Catholic” parish that accepts the ministry of women, I suggest that we, and those like us, are bearing Catholic doctrine faithfully to the world no less than the vociferous minority.
 That is not to say that those with whom we are at odds in this matter are not bearing it, too, as the ordination of women (and gays, for that matter) is but a small part of our teaching, and one which matters very little to those whom we seek to evangelise.
 However, it is surely time to be proud that the Church of England is at the forefront of a development in our understanding of the apostolic succession which will surely in time spread to the whole Church, including that part of it which looks to Rome for leadership.
 And let’s all stop trying to use the word “Catholic” as our exclusive property and return to the understanding taught to me by my father.
PAUL BENNETT
90 Stortford Hall Park
Bishop’s Stortford
Herts CM23 5AN