THE Rev David Robertson ("War of words over where Christianity stands over Christmas", The Herald, December 24) and Brian Quail (Letters, December 24) appear to share a lack of comprehension of a fairly simple point.

It is not accidental but a matter of great importance to many people that, whatever comfort and moral guidance a personal religious belief or the dogma of an organised religion may offer the individual, the possibility of any transference of that religiously-based view into the performance of a public office that person may hold should be defended against with all possible determination.

Brian Chrystal,

55 Craiglockhart Road, Edinburgh.