Madam, - Patsy McGarry's article "Churches should practise what they preach" (Opinion, March 31st) shows him to be a classic example of the "intolerant liberal" increasingly common in recent years: individuals who almost seem to want to shoot anyone who is not as "open-minded" as they are.
Rather than welcome the joint statement of the four churches in response to recent developments at Stormont he seeks to remind everybody of previous clerical failings (to fail = to differ from his viewpoint) and to suggest that Northern Ireland's troubles somehow owe something to theological differences between the churches.
Despite their differences, without the churches' voice over the past 30 years our little province would have perished. As a Presbyterian Christian I didn't agree with Dr Uprichard's absence from the RUC service involving a Catholic priest, but I support his freedom of conscience. At least he has a conscience.
Similarly, I don't agree with the view of many Catholic clergy that I am not a member of the true church; but I admire their honesty.
Honest difference and debate makes life more interesting. Debate exists in politics, science (my own trade) and all other walks of life; why deny religion? It would be a boring world if everyone was forced to think like Patsy McGarry. - Yours, etc,
ROGER ANDERSON, Coleraine, Co Derry.