1 Art and the artist: can they be separated? The Eric Gill row rumbles on — for the last time.

WITH REGARD TO the row about the presence of Eric Gill's Stations of the Cross in Westminster Cathedral, which has now bubbled over into the national daily press: no one should forget the appalling physical and psychological suffering imposed on both the members of Christian Survivors of Sexual Abuse and the abuse practised on children more generally by lay and religious, in this country and around the world. Christ's view on the abuse of children are clear and are recorded in St Matthew's gospel: "Whoever hurts one of these little ones ... it were better than a millstone were hung around his neck and he was drowned in the depths of the sea."
However, it seems to me that two or three points have been overlooked. First, it is not our place to judge others and however difficult this might be to accept, judgement must be acknowledged as the prerogalive of God. Secondly, nobody knows the condition of the relationship between Gill and his God at the moment of death and any attempt to secondguess this is futile. What we do know is that the mercy and forgiveness of God are infinite and that if Gill represented then he would have been forgiven.
Gill's Stations are the beautiful and contemplative works of a great artist and evidently spring from inspiration of some
piety Surely it is not too farfetched to surmise that at such times of creation Gill was at his closest to God and thus the works are indeed fit to be included in the House of God. To condemn him by the standard of his worst actions is to miss the point of redemption and thereby the whole purpose of the Church.
Simon Stanley Holland Park, London How MUCH MORE distressed Margaret Kennedy and members of the Association must be after the letters re Eric Gill (10 April).
Winefride Pruden tells us that Gill probably abused only two of his daughters! She puts forward the arguments which paedophiles use "his sisters were apparently complaisant (i.e. obliging, desiring to please). Victims say that until normal families are observed the pair, distaste and humiliation are thought of as a part of life.
Alberic Stacpoole refers to the panoply of human exploration! Staggering.
In reply to J E Howard there must be millions of us out here, sinners though we are, who have never indulged in incest or sexual abuse.
I agree with Eric Jones it is the "gross nature of the sins" which offends, Winefride Pruden states "he (Gill) knew what he was doing".
Almighty God in his infinite mercy will judge Eric Gill not us, but we do not have to be scandalised here on earth by having this "Catholic artist" paraded before us.
3: V Murton
Maidstone, Kent GOD BLESS Margaret Kennedy, of Christian Survivors of Sexual Abuse, for her denunciation of the horrible Stations of the Cross in Westminster Cathedral sculpted by that monster, Eric Gill. I agree with all that Margaret says in her letter, and I speak and write as one who was abused in my boyhood and teens; even now that I am 71 I still have nightmares; without the love and support of my wife, God alone knows what my life might have been.
It is my firm conviction that these Stations should be removed and destroyed.
Name and Address supplied.
THE cueeehrr debate provides our Church leaders with an opportunity to blow away ambivalence and demonstrates its intolerance of such activity, not only to those within its ranks but to all in the widest community. Perhaps the moment has come for them to consider whether such a work of art as Gill's and other paedophile's, could be sold and the proceeds put to counselling
the victims of paedophile activity even setting up a Church Agency to help children recognise their own plight and seek help from skilled and reliable experts. Through this action they would also signal clearly to the adults concerned that their activities are gravely wrong.
I think many people would agree that the works of art of paedophiles no matter how great, should not be glorified in a place of worship. I would have no problem in barring the work of any artist or known to have brutalised anyone, particularly a child. There are many artists to replace them.
Kathleen Long Palmers Green, London
I FIND IT DIFFICULT to restrain my indignation at the suggestion that Eric Gill's Stations of the Cross ought to be removed from Westminster Cathedral on account of the immorality of the artist. Such a judgement is irrelevant and is the product of a mind narrow, boorish and pharisaical. This series of sculptures is certainly among the most remarkable, and is perhaps the most beautiful, of modern sculptures to be seen in London, and the cathedral is honoured to house them. Many people, of all faiths and of none, visit the cathedral, which despite its noble architecture and magnificent classical marble columns, is other
wise somewhat deficient in works of outstanding artistic merit, for the sole purpose of admiring Eric Gill's masterpiece.
Peter Hutton Taunton, Somerset
THEME IS MUCH more "dubious religious art". Filippo Lippi painted a beautiful picture of Our Lady which has been reproduced all over the world. It is in the Uffizi, Florence. Filippo's model was a very pretty young nun.
Filippo seduced her, the offspring being Filippino Lippi. Do we throw that Madonna out? And all the others for which she posed? And all those Filippino, the nun's bastard? Where do we stop?
Eric Brenzini Willesden, London THERE IS SOMETHLNG horribly antiseptic about these kind of suggestions. Where do we draw the line in this matter? I joined the Catholic Church in 1991, and one reason I was drawn to the Church was because this was a Church for real human beings, warts and all.
Do we now start to consider a selective ex-communication of bad Popes and others on politically correct grounds? John Roberts Wakefield, Yorks
• THIS CORRESPONDENCE IS Now CLOSED, EDITOR