Extreme views

As an atheist and secularist, and thus a permanent target for Pope Benedict's own brand of virulent sectarianism, I want to assure his acolytes (Letters, 8 February) that I have no problem at all with him speaking his mind on any subject.

In any case, it remains to be seen if the Pope will be allowed into the country. The government and opposition parties have repeatedly stated that they are opposed to extremism in any form, and no-one has more extreme views on so many subjects than the Pope. If we are to take the government at its word, the Pope won't make it through passport control.

ALISTAIR McBAY

National Secular Society

Atholl Crescent

Edinburgh