Thomas More’s clerical utopia

Thomas More, whose book Utopia said: ‘There’s nothing to stop a woman from becoming a priest, although women aren’t often chosen for the job, and only elderly widows are eligible.’ Photograph: Stock Montage/Getty Images

Concerning your editorial (The Guardian view on women in the Catholic church: let down yet again, 13 October), it may be worth pondering that the great defender of Catholicism, Thomas More, included in his Utopia (1516) the following description: “Male priests are allowed to marry – for there’s nothing to stop a woman from becoming a priest, although women aren’t often chosen for the job, and only elderly widows are eligible.”
Rt Rev Dr Graham Kings
Hon assistant bishop, Diocese of Ely

• If we apply Zeno’s paradox to the health benefits of rest gaps between short bursts of walking (Strolls with stops use more energy than continuous walking, scientists show, 16 October) then not moving seems to be the healthiest option.
Pete Bibby
Sheffield