I agree completely with this comment. I had never written to a Globe reporter before, but this article made me so furious that I had to write. Of course she had the “bully pulpit” and could make her opinions known to all, but of all the topics to take on, with all that is wrong with the Catholic church’s approach to women’s issues - to name only one of its problems – to blame the lack of attendance on the existence of a pipe organ is ridiculous. The children may be scared of many things about the church, but the organ is not one of them. Your sample is probably very small. If you have been to Westminster Abbey or any of our larger churches with wonderful organs and organists, I wish you had said so. If not, then you are assuming the instrument in your church, and its organist, is representative of the entire category. You are most likely blaming the tool where the workman is to blame. Also, many churches cannot afford to keep their organs in the tune or shape that they require – therefore I would ask you to listen again with new ears at a church like Harvard's Memorial Chapel, or Christ Church in Harvard Square where the organs are in excellent condition. When the Catholic church went to acoustic guitars and left its rich tradition of wonderful, consistent music that educated and uplifted, it left musical taste in the dust as well. No wonder organists are left with watered down “modern” music – the congregation is used to nothing with any shred of musical value so organists are required to play pieces that are meant for guitar and Peter, Paul and Mary voices. You quote Widor, so I ask you to listen to the famous Toccata from his Fifth Symphony. I ask you even to listen to the Saint-Saens Organ Symphony popularized by “Babe, Pig in the City.” Now “Babe, Pig in the City’s” sequel should scare your children! But don’t rule out the chance that they may have some taste, and could have an appreciation for what has lasted for hundreds of years as a transcendent experience, and may hopefully outlive your diatribe against one of the most majestic instruments of all time.

I am all for organs. If I were to go to church, the one thing that would drive me there would be the organ, the king of all musical instruments. Yet you don't go to church to hear an organ. The point of church is to draw us close to God and each other.

But that can be achieved without going to church, or any church. Just sit in silence and experience the inner repose of the holy spirit which lies within you. Silence is your church and when you pray, as Christ said, go up to your room and, by the way, he said, "Don't multiply words." Yup, that's in the New Testament. You don't need a church to sit in silence.