The Golden rule.

Thanks for Paul Lakeland's irenic rejoinder to some critical reviews--including Commonweal's--of Roger Haight's important recent books on Christology and ecclesiology ("Not So Heterodox," January 26).

It makes sense to me to be grateful, as much as possible, for what a theologian, historian, or other scholar achieves before we point out what he may have failed to achieve, or express our own disagreements with his work.

Criticism need not be demeaning, and should not be ad hominem. In a saner and holier church, dialogue would not so often or so easily descend into accusations of heterodoxy, a judgment that should always be made with restraint and humility, and only after several efforts at clarification. If loving one another is out of the question, Catholics could at least be polite to one another.

Roger Haight has produced a large, impressive body of work. His love for the church and his personal integrity should be obvious from his writing. His books and articles are always intelligent, reasonable, timely, erudite, clearly written, carefully argued, and accessible to a wide audience, many of whom find them compelling and consoling. His intended audience may be different from the intended audiences of some other theologians, but his theology helps many people live fuller and more faithful Christian lives.

ROBERT J. EGAN, SJ

Spokane, Wash.