I FIND the letter from B J Meadows and J B Haslett (Your Letters, February 28) intemperate in the extreme.

The writer of Thought for the Week (February 21) is among Malvern's most respected church leaders, although your correspondents, writing as they do from Ashperton, may perhaps be excused for not knowing this. Malcolm Thompson can no more be accused of lacking in love than the majority, whether Christian or lay, indeed very much less so.

More to the point, however, is that the article in question can hardly be regarded as "indulgence in an emotional outburst" since all the instances of US political actions which are highlighted are incontrovertibly factual.

Even if the writer did betray emotion, what is wrong with having feelings provided they arise from clear perceptions?

Moreover, the author does mention his abhorrence of Saddam Hussein.

It is the historic complicity in the US record of backing corrupt and repressive regimes that makes so many of us suspicious of American motives for re-activating the Middle East conflict and consequently disinclined to be moved by the rhetoric of spurious morality.

Finally, if we must play the rather tedious game of speculating about falling church attendance, I would have thought that a church awake and active in the pressing global issues of our times would be more likely to have general appeal than one which is not.

Happily, our new archbishop won't, if he can help it, let us go to sleep on such issues of global importance. We are all God's children.

MRS F J PRITCHARD, Frederick Road, Malvern.