Letter: Scottish Catholics are taxpayers too

The repeated complaints about the taxpayer having to foot the bill for the Pope's visit are becoming rather tedious (your report and Comment, 8 September).

Those complaining seem to forget that Catholics are taxpayers too.

Two examples of things that Catholic taxpayers have to help to finance, unwillingly, are the millions spent on abortions and on the provision of contraceptives to underage children, without their parents' knowledge.

Those taxes are paid year after year; the Pope's visit is a one-off event.

All state visits are costly. I just hope the media will show impartiality and that from now on we will be informed of what all state visits cost, especially when the visitor comes from a country with poor human rights records. Why should Pope Benedict be singled out?

I am proud that Pope Benedict has accepted the Queen's invitation.

He is one world leader who is not afraid to speak the truth, however unpopular, just as Jesus did.

He is also a very courteous man, which is more than can be said for some of his critics.

MARY BELL

Gourlaybank

Haddington, East Lothian