Madam, - It is sad that the non-attendance of the outgoing moderator of the Presbyterian Church at a service for deceased members of the RUC is seen as bigoted by your reader Tom Cooper (June 13th).
Dr Uprichard, like many Presbyterians, holds the view that he cannot share worship with those of the Roman Catholic faith for theological reasons. Prior to his year as moderator and during that year he has stuck to his view.
This does not in any way mean that respect and reverence for different religious views is absent or lacking and in no way could or should this be seen as bigoted or sectarian. Those of us, north and south on this island, who know, love and respect the man can testify that he hasn't a bigoted bone in his body and has respect from a wide political spectrum. - Yours, etc,
BRIAN TURTLE, Valley Road, Ballymena, Co Antrim.