Sir: Living as I do in a rather remote out-
post of Western civilisation, I often receive my Spectators somewhat after the fact; but may I point out, just in case no one else did, that Alastair Forbes, in his review of Nigel Hamilton's first-volume biography of John F. Kennedy (Books, 12 December, 1992) misleads his readers when he refers to Car- dinal Cushing's eulogy of the murdered president as having occurred 'in Washing- ton Cathedral'.
By common consent of all America's multitudinous sects, that term applies to the Anglican/Episcopal modern-Gothic pile which dominates Washington's skyline from Mount Saint Alban, the highest point in the city. As a Roman Catholic, Cardinal Cushing would not have done his eulogising there even had he wanted to. JFK's requiem was held at the rather dumpy, red- brick RC cathedral of St Matthew on not- so-fashionable Rhode Island Avenue, not far from the White House. Thirty years later, anyone can preach or eulogise at Washington Cathedral provided he does not have any traditional Christian beliefs. Gone are the days of Dean Sayre and Bish- op Creighton when lip-service at least was paid to Anglican orthodoxy.
Robert Brenton Betts The American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
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