Letters Page

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Cardinal’s viewson free votes

SIR, – Regarding the row over hybrid embryos, if leading Roman Catholic churchman Cardinal Keith O'Brien is so keen on the importance of free votes, perhaps it is time for him to practise what he preaches.

Would he let Church members have a free vote on contraception? Perhaps there could be a simple question along the lines of: “Are you in favour of contraception or are you happy for thousands of innocent children to be born each year with HIV?"

The worst that can happen to Labour MPs is that they lose the whip. But I suspect that Catholic dissenters would be threatened with whipping for eternity in hell. It is obviously very difficult for the cardinal, being employed within a dictatorial organisation, to work and respond rationally within a democratic country.

Douglas Tait,

St Columba's

Lonmay.

Hybrid embryo research

SIR, – You imply in your editorial Comment (March 24) that a vote taken out of conscience or research is different from a vote taken out of religious or political conviction. However, it is surely the case that a person who has strong religious beliefs, for example, has a conscience that is shaped or affected by those beliefs.

Speaking as a Christian, I am horrified at the notion that scientists are contemplating the creation of embryos which will be part animal, part human. Even if they limit this creation to research purposes, I doubt the morality of such a move. Taken to its logical conclusion – the possibility of actual creatures resulting from it – the implications are horrific.

This could well be the “thin end of the wedge” which would open a door to just such unthinkable consequences.

It would seem possible that tissue created by such artificial means may be flawed. Remember Dolly the sheep, who contracted arthritis – does it not seem likely that the long-term efficacy of tissues resulting from this research could be similarly in question?

My worry is that once we start down this road we won’t know where to stop. Current legislation places certain limits on embryo research, but legislation can be changed at any time to suit shortsighted political ends. Do we really want to go there?

Marion Martin,

1 Boyndie Street West,

Banff.

‘Is kindness a thing of the past?’

SIR, – I'm just back from a wee trip to the shops. While I was there, I tried to do another woman a good turn by placing my empty trolley so she could put her shopping straight into it, rather than having it piling up and falling on the floor. I was trying to be kind and helpful.

This act of kindness was hugely misinterpreted. First she accused me of trying to jump the queue, then acted as though I was trying to steal from her. All this at full volume in front of quite a few other people. When I tried to explain that I thought I was helping, she became even more foul. I felt like a pariah. Have we really come to this, that kindness is a thing of the past? I feel like crying for mankind if this is the case.

A little kindness shared around each day would make life so much nicer for everyone. Have we forgotten how to smile in this horrible angry world? Am I an anachronism, out of step with my peers, because I like to be a good neighbour? How terribly sad.

Amanda Hughes,

Drovers Way,

Milton, Invergordon.

Cuts in council services

SIR, – I have followed the coverage of the proposed cuts in services as a result of Aberdeen City Council’s budget shortfall. There is no doubt that many of the proposed cuts will have a serious impact on many, especially the disabled and disadvantaged. I am particularly saddened that Glencraft faces closure. What would we rather do? Employ people and give them self respect and dignity, or would we rather they existed on benefits, which ultimately will be more costly to the public purse?

The closure of sports facilities lacks any kind of sensible forward thinking. We have problems with our youth spending their time drinking and participating in antisocial activities, yet we close down facilities that will go a long way to positively engaging them.

On March 19, you reported: “Aberdeenshire is being urged to help bail out Aberdeen and prevent the closure of sports facilities in the city.” I would be very much against supporting such a proposal. The city has obviously mismanaged its finances and it’s not the responsibility of the shire to bail it out.

I would suggest it is time for a complete rethink of local-authority politics. Taxpayers are paying for two authorities with all the resultant costs of duplication. We could reduce our cost base significantly. This saving would go a very long way to reducing proposed cuts.

Mrs J. Duncan,

18 Farburn Drive,

Stonehaven.

‘Gamekeepers are the true guardians’

SIR, – I read with utter amazement your piece (the Press and Journal, March 21) headed “Police raid estate over bird poisonings". More than 50 officers, including “dozens" of police officers, participated in this dawn raid.

It appears that gamekeepers are now in the same league as serious criminals, i.e. major drug dealers and terrorists.

The criminals here are the people who seem hell bent on having our countryside full of predatory species of wildlife. With buzzards, sparrowhawks and the like already out of control, the devastation of the rest of our wildlife is clear.

In the past, our wildlife was plentiful due to the hard work carried out on our keepered estates to ensure predatory species were controlled.

As far as public safety goes, I am quite sure people would be far happier in the knowledge that our police officers were employed controlling the ever-increasing levels of crime on our streets, leaving countryside issues to those who have many years’ experience in their field. Gamekeepers are the true guardians of what little wildlife we now have left.

Andy Ritchie,

The Moorie, St Cyrus.