Sir, - I wholeheartedly agree with your editorial of October 6th, "Religion in Russia", in which you deplore recent repressive legislation concerning the practice of religion in that country. Freedom of religion is indeed a human right and The Irish Times does well to uphold the primordial claims of conscience to seek and worship God.The legalisation of overt discrimination against the right to choose and express one's religious beliefs is, however, not exclusive to dictatorship. Democracy is not immune to subtle prejudices which can violate human rights.When a religion is the subject of sustained and hysterical criticism in the commentary that passes for modern journalism, religious freedom does not exist. When the human weaknesses of some members of a religious group are exposed and gloated over, and its strengths treated with cynical disdain, then freedom of conscience is a sham.When those applying for public office must first explain and apologise to the media for sincerelyheld convictions, as if guilty of criminal activity, then the human right to freedom of religion is not respected. When contributions to public debate on issues affecting society are derided because they come from Catholics, with or without epithets such as "rightwing", "retrograde", or "fundamentalist", then freedom of conscience is dead.Your editorial states that both the Vatican and the US Vice-President, Al Gore, have condemned the Russian legislation. In joining them, The Irish Times keeps good company. But didn't somebody once say something about taking the beam out of your own eye first? - Yours, etc.,(Dr) Orla Halpenny,Queen's Park,Monkstown,Co Dublin.