I'M afraid it isn't Mrs C Parker that condemns homosexuality (Letters, July 16), it's the bible, the book that Christians and the church are supposed to use and accept as God's word.

It would appear that she knows more than her "attackers and revilers": it isn't just the so-called out-dated Leviticus that condemns homosexuality, try Romans 1 v 26-27 and verse 32, 1 Corinthians 6 v 9-10, from the New Testament or the "Christian Book".

As to the rights and wrongs of homosexuality, if the bible condemns it then so should the church and practising Christians, or find a religion that allows it.

I have a feeling though that it is man's standards that have changed not God's. It has nothing at all to do with bigotry, if you're a Christian, you should do as the bible tells you. If you want to be a heathen, fine, but you can't be both. It's Christians that don't follow the teachings of the "Christian Book" that are the hypocrites: that is what hypocrisy is, purporting to be something but being something else.

W Elliott,

Kinbrace Road, Hartlepool.

Updated: 10:50 Monday, July 28, 2003