Faith, ethics and politics still mix uneasily

Cardinal O'Brien again attacks the UK Government for recent changes to the law (your report, 24 February) and, sadly but unsurprisingly, many of his examples relate to changes that reduced discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Does he really consider that the ability of loving same-sex couples to legally register a civil partnership is one the biggest problems facing the country?

Government willingness to listen to faith perspectives, alongside others, seems reasonable. There are many such perspectives. The Church of Scotland, for example, supported civil partnerships.

The Cardinal seems to confuse listening to those various perspectives with the government granting a veto over its policy, to the hierarchy of his Church in particular.

And we are talking about the hierarchy here, not the 750,000 Catholics the Cardinal mentions. In 2002, the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey found that only 33 per cent of Catholics opposed same-sex marriage, much in line with the 29 per cent figure across all Scots.

The Catholic Church's leaders speak for themselves on this issue, not for all Catholics.

TIM HOPKINS

Equality Network

Bernard St, Edinburgh

How dare Jim Murphy claim the heritage of Christian socialism for the bunch of warmongering jackals he speaks for (your report, 23 February)? Every denomination in Scotland, including his own, has consistently opposed the war in Iraq and demanded an end to the obscene Trident missile programme, which will help bankrupt our nation both morally and financially. Having rolled over for the greedy bankers and precipitated the current crisis by their opportunism, they now seek to claim the high ground which they so shamelessly deserted in the New Labour years.

IAN SCOTT

Neilson Street

Falkirk

Jim Murphy is clutching at straws when he links New Labour with Christian values (your report, 23 February).

His party's tenure has seen two wars, extraordinary renditions, expenses abuses and, possibly, bullying.

If God had a vote I don't think he would be voting Labour.

N WALKER

Princes Gardens

Glasgow

Jim Murphy's attempt to persuade religious voters to support Labour was clumsy, crass and cynical. Instead of endeavouring to bring religion into politics he would do better to employ the self-deprecation shown by Churchill who, when asked if he considered himself to be a pillar of the Church, replied that he saw himself rather as a flying buttress, supporting it from the outside.

STAN ELDER

Avon Road

Edinburgh