Fmm Mrs Patricia MacGregor
Sir, So Bishop Lindsay supports Comic Relief and naively presumes that "Catholic" money can be earmarked away from projects which conflict with Catholic belief and teaching? If, as you report, "the bishops are certain that no Red Nose Day funds whatever are allocated to projects that promote or finance abortion" then why set up a special bank account for Catholics to direct their donations away from birth control projects at all?
He criticises Mr Caffery for assuming that "safe sex is code for pills, condoms and abortion" What does it mean to Bishop Lindsay? Surely he cannot think "safe sex" refers to abstinence and natural family planning?
Bishop Lindsay has failed to acknowledge the very good intentions of Mr Caffery or of John Coughlan, another of your cursespondants, who has taken positive steps to deal with problems arising from Catholic giving, by designing a charities policy for his Catholic school. Well done to them both. Instead Bishop Lindsay has simply reacted as he usually does by taking personal offence when the judgements of bishops are questioned.
Yours sincerely, PATRICIA MACGREGOR Newcastle upon Tyne
From Dr Josephine Treloar
Sir, I could not have my children contribute to "Red Nose" funds. Even if 'only three per cent of takings' (according to a radio report I heard) go towards family planning programmes abroad, there are many other charities which provide care and which do no harm.
I vividly remember the account of a fellow medical student who witnessed barbaric sterilisation of women while on a study period
in India. It is a pity that conscientious parents should be forced into the unnecessary dilemma of Red Nose day.There are so many wholly good causes with single aims that the children can more easily relate to, and which truly value the most vulnerable people on our Earth today.
Yours faithfully JOSEPHINE TRELOAR Sidcup, Kent
From the Revd Bryan Storey
Sir, I could never give a penny to a charitable organisation which in any way gives funds to promote the evil practices of contraception or abortion even if cardinal or bishop says I'm allowed to do so.
Yours faithfully, BRYAN STOREY, Tintagel Catholic Church bryan_s@onetelnet.uk