Catholic Takes Exception to Phrase ‘Hail Mary Pass’

As a member of the Roman Catholic faith, and Los Angeles has a very large Catholic population, I find the phrase Hail Mary pass offensive and disrespectful in the extreme.

Please cease from using this phrase in the future.

LARRY C. KNIGHT, Rosemead

EDITOR’S NOTE: The phrase in question was used by quarterback Roger Staubach of the Dallas Cowboys, a Roman Catholic, in describing the last-second winning pass play in his team’s 1975 playoff victory over the Minnesota Vikings. It quickly became a part of the language of football and is used with no disrespect intended.