We do all share a common humanity

Dear Sir,

While agreeing that freedom to practice one's religion as discussed in your article in last week's Chronicle, page four is vital in a multicultural society such as our own, it is important also that this does not trespass over to undue infl uence.

We are all free to decide what if any religion to pursue and for this to change during our lives.

As a very personal and sensitive issue, it is as important to respect others' views and not to unduly pressurise them to conform to our own.

Some of us are quite fl uid in our religious beliefs and do not appreciate others' attempts to change or alter ours, however well intentioned.

It is important therefore for those who express their religion publicly, to be sensitive to those who do not want to and the possible effects of those behaviours.

We do all share a common humanity and what unites us is so much greater than what does not, however important the latter might seem on the surface.

Yours faithfully,

(DR) PETER HIRST

Middlewich.