Opening floodgates for filth

mR. NORMAN ST. JOHNSTEVAS is right to warn us of the dangers attending the complete abolition of all forms of censorship. But why does he consider that "books like 'Lady Chatterley's Lover' should not be banned by law"? When the Crown lost its case against the publishers of the unexpurgated edition of "Lady Chatterley's Lover," the floodgates of filth were opened because the fear of prosecution was removed. We are familiar with the argument that "there should be no censorship of ideas or the arts." Does this permit Third Programme intellectuals to use words that would occasion the arrest of a rowdy teenager on a city high street?
And why no censorship of the theatre? There is nothing new about public portrayals of obscenities and perversions: they are as old as history and have always had the same long-term results.
The corruption of youth by pornography through mass media communications has become so serious that stricter censorship seems to be the only solution.
Margaret Morris Leicester.
How to vote?
I N a very short time another AGeneral Election will be upon us. Candidates representing many shades of political opinion will be proclaiming their party's policies on the major issues of the day. On what grounds ought practising Christians decide which way to vote?
Most of us, I am sure, vote for a particular political party rather than for an individual person, and we do this because, on balance, this seems to be the best way of seeing the country run in accordance with our own ideals and opinions. What are we to do, however, if the candidate for our particular party is known to be a supporter of legislation or policies which are contrary to Christian ethics?
What, for instance, should be the attitude of Catholic Labour supporters in the Coventry constituency of Mr. Richard Crossman? I choose this example not because of the party involved, but because of Mr. Crossman's active support and encouragement for policies diametrically opposed to Catholic teaching, G. A. Cole Berkhamsted, Herts.