Sex obsession

The erudite and thoughtful article by Professor Hugh McLachlan (“We can’t justify the ethics of killing others”, Perspective, 25 July) offers a significant contrast to the offensive rubbish on gay lifestyles spouted by the Archbishop of Glasgow.

What a great pity that so many self-appointed spokespeople for religion appear obsessed with sexuality – a minor issue in most people’s lives when compared with the time they spend doing other things – and rarely comment on the more pressing problems in our society which are often discussed in your pages, such as poverty and the widening gap between rich and poor, access to higher education, and the role of older people.

The Scotsman is to be commended for the wide range of such challenging and intelligent pieces it publishes by writers such as Joyce McMillan, Brian Wilson, Allan Massie and others.

These people raise issues which are vital in developing a fairer society, and which many church officials seem determined to ignore.

Still, not much changes – I seem to remember that Jesus spent much of His time on 
earth arguing with the religious authorities.

(Dr) Mary Brown

Dalvenie Road

Banchory