TO the question "would the Echo print a letter substituting the words Asian, Muslim or Black for the word homosexual" (HAS, Nov 2)? The answer will surely be yes, if the same policy is applied as regarding Christianity and religion generally.

All religion is fair game for discussion provided fairness, justice and, certainly, temperateness in language is observed.

I possess a file of correspondence from one HAS contributor whose views and, most certainly, the language used, can be utterly repugnant - an offence and denial of civilised debate. How does an utterly abusive attack on the most sacred of Christian rituals (holy communion service) or the festival of the Nativity (HAS, Dec 29, 2009) or the implied meaning that all priests are paedophiles (HAS, Sept 8), contribute to civilised debate?

This is hard core prejudice and intolerance, fuelled by religious hatred. Is hatred a sound basis for any kind of civilised discourse?

Abuse (one of this contributor's favourite themes) is evil in all its forms.

But what do I hear/read from this contributor regarding Strictly Come Dancing's explicit content, oversexualisation generally and pornography which are, arguably, all forms of child abuse? Nothing.

Michael Baldasera, Darlington.