Pope's right to freedom of expression

Spin conveniently buries the fact that Pope Benedict was responding to a speech by Cardinal Keith O'Brien and he was addressing Scottish Catholic bishops – not the Green Party or the Protestant churches. He was certainly not "preaching ad hominem to Scotland" as your Editorial claimed.

The most controversial statements recently made by the Pope relating to legislation in England and Scotland deal with moral issues. In addressing these, it is inevitable one may "skirt too close to politics". Is the Pope really expected to rejoice over the Reformation? Is he not expected to praise the success of the Catholic schools in Scotland? Should he pretend to be oblivious to the spectre of sectarianism that still haunts us?

If denial of one's beliefs, is the only way to walk "hand in hand" with Martin Keane, the Moderator of the Free Church of Scotland, and others, the friendship has no depth. As to Patrick Harvie's puerile remark advocating acceptance of increasing secularisation, no person of faith, never mind the Holy father, should be "relaxed" about this.

With regard to the ending of life, the Catholic Church's teaching remains the same, and springs from the belief in the sacredness of all human life from conception until old age, challenging all of us at some time through suffering and heartbreak.

Our secular society, obsessed with equality, mistakes it for sameness, and is attempting to force an unnatural uniformity of thought and belief. So is it any wonder that we are shocked and surprised at Pope Benedict's words?

NANCY CLUSKER

Edinburgh Road

Bathgate, West Lothian

I believe that the attack by the Pope on certain aspects of our society in Scotland is unjustified. The claim that we are plagued by sectarianism is a nonsense. There was a time when this claim would have been justified, but we have moved on.

I would describe Scotland today as being one of the most caring, compassionate and tolerant countries in the world. One of the main reasons why sectarianism, bigotry and prejudice has been nearly wiped out is as a consequence of having the majority of our children taught in non-denominational schools, where religious conditioning plays no part in their education. If all our children were educated without religious conditioning, then the situation would improve further.

JIM CARSON

Larchfield

Balerno, Midlothian

You suggest in your Editorial that "Scotland is a place in which he (the Pope] disapproves". When John Paul II was in Scotland in 1982, he referred several times to an early medieval papal encyclical on the Scottish Church, entitled Specialis filia romanae ecclesiae. This made the Church in Scotland, uniquely in the world, a special daughter of the Roman Church.

It was issued to halt the territorial claims of the Archdiocese of York on the Scottish Church. These claims ran parallel to the claims of English kings on the land of Scotland. The popes are well-briefed in our history and I have no doubt that Benedict XVI will refer to the special daughter also. Despite your arguments, politics and religion will always run in parallel.

ALAN CLAYTON

Westfield

Strachur, Argyll

Oh dear, oh dear! So some people think the Reformation was a tragedy, do they? How very uncivil. How very divisive. How very, very dare they. Not all people here view Scottish history and culture through the one smug, complacent and myopic lens.

JAMES MACMILLAN CBE

London Symphony Orchestra

St Luke's

Old Street, London

The Pope views assisted suicide as wrong, so when he comes across attempts to introduce it he comments accordingly. Whatever is wrong with that? Why should he not "venture into politics"? Are there any other people who should be excluded from such public debate?

RICHARD LUCAS

Cowan Road

Shandon, Edinburgh